The Adventures -* 

PussinBookJr 

by David Cory • 



TWILIGHT TALES 
















COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
























Books by 

DAVID CORY 

ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, Jr. 

16mo. Illustrated. 

FURTHER ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, Jr. 
16mo. Illustrated. 


HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK 
[Established 1817] 




The Adventures of -- 

Puss inBootsJ r. 

by David Cory ■ 



TWILIGHT TALES 
Harper £> Brothers,Publishers 













/) 


“TWILIGHT TALES” originally appeared 
in the New York Evening Sun , where, judging 
from the many letters received by the Editor, 
they gave much pleasure to young and old. 
Permission to issue the stories in book form 
was kindly granted by the Editor of the Evening 
Sun , to whom the author extends his thanks. 



O 


AUG 27 .191? 



Adventures of Puss in Boots, Jr. 

Copyright. 1917, by Harper & Brothers 
Printed in the United States of America 
Published September, 1917 

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CONTENTS 


i 

PAGE 

Puss in Boots, Jr., Begins His Travels .... 9 

A Visit to Piggie’s Mamma .13 

Puss Sees the Cow Jump Over the Moon ... 16 

Puss Meets Yankee Doodle Dandy .... 21 

Puss Sings a Song and Helps a Beggar ... 25 

Puss Follows Wee Willie Winkie.31 

Puss, Jr., Meets Three Jolly Welshmen and the 

Queen of Hearts. 35 

Puss Learns Where His Father Is and Receives 

a Tart from the Queen.40 

Puss Crosses a Wonderful Bridge.43 

Puss in Boots, Jr., Visits the Old Woman in the 

Shoe .45 

Puss, Jr., Joins the Circus.51 

Puss, Jr., Proves to Be a Wonderful Circus 

Performer .54 

A Terrible Fight Stopped by Using Plum-cake 57 
Puss, Jr., Meets Another Cat and Moralizes on 

Contentment .60 

Puss Meets Mother Goose . . 63 

Tripping with the Stars . . ♦.66 













CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Puss Finds Adventure at the Top of Jack’s 

Famous Bean-stalk .69 

Puss Discovers Where Jack Is Hiding .... 74 

Puss and Jack Make a Bold Rescue .... 77 

Puss, Jr., Meets Mr. Rowley Frog.80 

Puss Is Heartily Welcomed by Jack the Jumper 83 

Old King Cole’s Fiddlers Are Rather Rude to 

Puss.86 

The Miller of the Dee.88 

Puss, Jr., Renders a Mother Aid.93 

The Milkman’s Horse, Old Naggetty Nogg . . 96 

Who Is a Man’s Most Faithful Friend? ... 99 

Puss Buys a Pair of Boots Made for His Famous 

Sire.102 

Puss Meets a Modest Mending Man and a Jolly 

Miller .105 

Puss Overhears a Proposal and Is Invited to a 

Wedding.110 

Puss and Several Acquaintances Journey to the 

Wedding.113 

The Guests Arrive Safely at the Wedding . . 116 

Puss Is Welcomed at the Wedding.119 

The Bride Receives Some Handsome Presents 122 
Puss Makes a New Friend and Gains a Steed 125 
Puss Meets a Hunter and They Both Learn that 

the Owl Is a Useful Bird .130 

Puss Goes on a Shopping Trip to Make a Little 
Maid Happy 


133 














CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Puss Converses with an Intelligent Gray 


Donkey.136 

Puss Meets a Happy Farmer but Misses a Good 

Meal..139 

Puss Helps a Stranger Catch a Runaway Pig 142 
Puss Helps a Little Boy Who Is in Trouble 147 












ILLUSTRATIONS 


Puss, Jr., Trudged Along Bravely . . . Page 17^ 

“What Are You Going to Buy with the 

Money?” Puss Asked.“ 27 

Puss Joined in the Chase to Help the Queen “ 37 

Out on a Limb, from Which He Dangled His 

Red-topped Boots.“ 47 

“Good Morning, Ma’am,” Said He, Lifting 

His Cap Politely. “ 71 

‘‘Aren’t We Great Friends?” Asked the 

Miller.“ 89 

“If I’d as Much Money as I Could Spend” “ 107 

“I Guess You Are Right, My Good Sir,” Said 

Puss.“ 127 

“To Market, to Market, to Buy a Fat Pig” “ 143 












THE ADVENTURES OF 
PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 















THE ADVENTURES OF 
PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


PUSS IN BOOTS, JR., BEGINS HIS 
TRAVELS 



)USS had made a great discovery 
in the garret. It seems strange 
that he should have found some¬ 
thing more important than a rat 
or mouse, but he had. From the 
moment he had seen the picture- 
book he was a changed cat! 

“Yes,” he said, holding it a little to one side, 
so that the light from the small attic window 
would show the picture more distinctly, “this is 
certainly a portrait of my father.” 

It was the story of “Puss in Boots,” and on the 
cover was a beautiful picture of a cat wearing a 
magnificent pair of boots with shiny red tops. 
Puss sat down and opened the book. The further 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

he read the more excited he became. When he 
had finished he jumped up and, proudly looking 
at the portrait of his handsome father, he ex¬ 
claimed, with flashing eyes, “From to-day I shall 
call myself ‘Puss in Boots, Junior’; I shall go 
forth in search of adventure, just as my father 
did, and I shall not rest until I have found 
him!” 

He looked around to see if he could find a 
pair of boots like those in the picture. 

To his delight he saw in a corner the very pair 
he wanted, and they had red tops, too. He 
slipped them on and looked at himself in an old 
cracked mirror which stood against the wall. 

On a peg near by hung a cap, dusty, but not a 
bit shabby or worn. Placing it on his head, he 
hunted around until he found an old cane with a 
bent handle. “There’s a cane in the picture— 
I suppose they called it a staff in those days; 
at any rate, I’m now complete; I’m a real 
Puss in Boots, Junior!” and with these words he 
scampered down the stairs as fast as he dared, 
not yet being used to his new-found boots. 

“Hurray!” he cried, as he reached the front 
door, and he took a hop, skip, and jump across 
the piazza, holding his tail gracefully in his left 
paw. “Hurray!” 

Down the steps he skipped, two at a time, 
down the walk to the gate, his heels clattering 
on the stone pavement, rat-a-tat-tat, like a 
10 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

cavalryman. The road was dusty, but he went 
along gaily, the sun shining on the bright-red 
tops of his boots, making him very proud in¬ 
deed. 

He hadn’t gone very far when he heard a 
funny little squeak, and, looking to the side of 
the road from which the sound came, he saw 
a small pig stuck between two boards in the 
fence. 

“Squeak, squeak! Oh, help me out!” cried 
Piggie. 

Puss in Boots, Jr., ran up and, with the help 
of his cane, pried the boards apart so that the 
little pig could just squeeze himself through. 
“Squeak, squeak! Oh, thank you!” cried the 
little fellow. “I wish I could do something to 
repay you!” 

“You can,” replied Puss, Jr., who had by this 
time grown very hungry, “I would like some¬ 
thing to eat.” 

“Come with me,” said Piggie. “Mother al¬ 
ways gets some milk from the dairymaid about 
this time. Come.” And he took Puss, Jr., by the 
front paw and started to run across the field. 

“Hold on! I mean, let go!” cried Puss in Boots, 
Jr. “How do you know your mother will want 
visitors for lunch?” 

“She’ll be only too delighted, especially when 
she knows how you pulled me out of the fence. 
You’re not bashful, are you?” 

2 n 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“No-o-o!” replied Puss, Jr., “but you see I’ve 
never lunched with pigs before!” 

“Oh, don’t let that worry you,” replied his 
little friend, who seemed to be pretty sure of 
himself for so small a pig. “Come along!” 

And Puss did. 


A VISIT TO PIGGIE’S MAMMA 


P USS, JR., followed his friend the little pig, 
whom he had so fortunately rescued from 
between the fence boards, across the field and 
into the woods. Indeed, he was so hungry by 
this time that he felt he would be brave enough 
to follow a lion. Just then he heard some one 
singing in a high, squeaky voice: 

“This little Pig went to market. 

This little Pig stayed at home. 

This little Pig had roast beef. 

This little Pig had none. 

This little Pig cried, ‘Wee, wee, wee!* 

All the way home.” 

“That’s mother,” replied the little pig in 
answer to an inquiring look from Puss, Jr. “She 
always sings that when any of us is naughty. 
You see,” he added, apologetically, “I should not 
have tried to get through the fence and out on 
the road.” 

“Oh, I understand,” replied Puss, Jr. “Is 
that your house?” 

“Yes, and there’s mother.” 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


Puss, Jr., saw a very nice-looking lady pig 
standing in the doorway of a queer little cabin. 
She had on a blue gingham apron over a short 
skirt of gray, and a very tight-fitting shirt-waist, 
which was stretched almost to the bursting-point 
as she raised her right forefoot to shade her eyes. 

“Well, here you are at last!” she exclaimed 
to Piggie. “But look at your trousers; you’ve 
torn a big hole in them!” 

He looked ruefully at the rent in his little blue 
jeans. “I got stuck in the fence,” he whimpered. 

“He’d be there yet if I hadn’t pulled him out,” 
volunteered Puss, Jr., hoping to divert her at¬ 
tention from his little friend. 

Mrs. Porker, for that was her name, turned 
and looked at him, as much as to say, “Where 
did you come from?” but she didn’t; she only 
very politely remarked: “Thank you for helping 
Piggie. I’m sorry to say he does not always mind 
mother. But come, you both are hungry, I 
know.” And she led the way into the cabin. 

At a round table in the room two little pigs 
were already eating their dinner. “What is 
your name?” asked Mrs. Porker in a kindly 
tone, pushing a chair up next to hers for Puss. 

“Puss in Boots, Junior, madam,” he replied, 
with a polite bow. 

“This is Wiggie and this is Tiggie,” said their 
mother, and the two small pigs got up and 
shook hands with him. 

14 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


They had a merry lunch, and he was surprised 
to see how clean and well behaved the Porker 
family was. 

“You know,” said Mrs. Porker, as if reading 
his thoughts, “that pigs are really the cleanest of 
animals, only man is so cruel to pigs—he shuts 
them up in small pens and makes them appear 
quite the opposite. Just read the books about 
us and you will see. Yes,” she continued, “when 
pigs are allowed to run around they are clean 
as they can be; only when they are little they 
are often most disobedient.” And she looked 
at Piggie, who got very red in the face. 

“I don’t believe he’ll disobey again,” answered 
Puss, Jr. “You have such a nice playground 
here in the woods I shouldn’t think he would 
want to run away to that dusty road again; 
just look at my boots.” And he thrust his foot 
out and showed the bright-red tops all dingy 
with the day’s travel. 

Lunch was now over, and after politely thank¬ 
ing Mrs. Porker for her goodness Puss said good- 
by to the three little pigs. 

“Don’t forget me,” called out Piggie as Puss, 
Jr., climbed over the fence. 

“Of course I won’t,” he called back, and 
waved his paw to Piggie in the doorway. 


PUSS SEES THE COW JUMP OVER 
THE MOON 

P USS, JR., trudged along bravely for some 
time, but, finding it very dusty, he left the 
road and climbed over the low stone wall that 
bordered the big pasture on his right. 

“It’s funny to see the moon in the daytime,” 
he remarked as he crossed the long green meadow 
dotted everywhere with yellow cowslips; “I 
don’t understand it,” and he looked curiously 
at the big, white moon which hung low in the 
skies just overhead. As he spoke, across the 
grass hopped a big silver spoon, closely followed 
by a dish with a blue border, which rolled along 
over the ground at a great rate. 

“Wow, wow! Ha, ha!” laughed a little dog 
from the other side of the fence. “Keep on 
rolling; you’ll tire him out pretty soon.” 

Puss, Jr., watched the funny race with much 
amusement until he was startled by a voice at 
his side, saying, “Glad to see you,” and, turning 
around, he saw a small cat with a fiddle under 
her paw. 


16 



PUSS, JR., TRUDGED ALONG BRAVELY 



































THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“Hey diddle-diddle,” she sang in a high, sweet 
voice, and scratched away on the strings like a 
player in an orchestra. 

“Tell me,” Puss, Jr., said to her as the music 
stopped for a moment, “why is the moon out to¬ 
day? I thought it only came out at night.” 

“Why, don’t you know?” she replied. “It 
is going to let the cow jump over it to-day.” 

“Indeed! and when does that happen?” 

“Oh, any minute now; in fact, there she 
comes through the gate.” And, sure enough, 
across the fields a beautiful black-and-white cow 
came leisurely toward them. 

“Good morning,” she exclaimed, as she neared 
our two friends, and, turning to the cat with the 
fiddle, she said: “Are you ready? If you are, 
just strike up a lively tune so that I can get into 
step before I try for my jump.” 

Puss, Jr., was so interested that he forgot to 
ask another question, but stood still while the 
cow commenced to prance around, keeping per¬ 
fect time to the music. 

“Faster, faster!” she called, as she swung into 
a canter. “I’m going to get a flying start; you 
know, if you get a flying start the higher you 
will fly when you do fly.” 

This undoubtedly was true, for in a moment 
more she rose gracefully from the ground toward 
the moon. 

“Be careful!” screamed the Man in the Moon, 
19 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


leaning out as she approached near enough for 
his voice to reach her. “Be careful and don’t 
clip off a piece with your hoof as you go over!” 

She did as he told her, and sailed over in a 
long, sweeping curve and landed safely in a patch 
of clover at the other end of the field. 

“Great!” exclaimed Puss, Jr. “You did it 
splendidly!” 

“Oh, that’s nothing!” she answered, although 
she seemed rather proud of her feat. “Oh, that’s 
nothing at all!” 

“I don’t agree with you,” he replied. “I 
should think you’d be very proud of your feet; 
they’re as good as wings.” 

The Jumping Cow paid no more attention to 
him, but munched away at the clover like an 
ordinary cow. 

“She won’t say another word to-day,” whis¬ 
pered the cat behind her fiddle; “but if you’re 
around this way to-morrow morning and it’s a 
nice day she may try another jump.” 

“I’m sorry,” Puss, Jr., replied, “but by that 
time I shall be far away upon my journey. 
Thank you just the same.” And with these 
words he took off his hat to Miss Pussy and re¬ 
sumed his travels along the cool, shady path 
through the woods. 


PUSS MEETS YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 

T HE broad highway was somewhat dusty 
and not nearly so pleasant as the cool, 
shady path through the woods. At the same 
time Puss felt that it was leading him on toward 
his journey’s end, and the thought that then he 
would find his dear father made his heart beat 
fast with hope. 

He began to whistle, when suddenly he heard 
the sound of hoof beats. Then a voice com¬ 
menced singing, loudly and clearly: 

“Yankee Doodle came to town. 

Riding on a pony; 

He stuck a feather in his cap 
And called it macaroni. 

“Yankee Doodle came to town, 

Yankee Doodle dandy. 

He stuck a feather in his cap 
And called it sugar candy.” 

Down the road came a pony at a mad gallop, 
and seated upon his back was a very queer¬ 
looking person. In his cap was a long feather 
21 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


and in his right hand was a big whip. The pony 
was galloping along at a great rate, and every 
now and again his rider would give a tremendous 
whoop, like an Indian brave. “Yankee Doodle 
Dandy!” he yelled, and then the pony would 
stand up on his hind legs and neigh. 

“Look out!” yelled the rider, as he approached 
Puss. “Don’t you see you are in the way?” 

“Am I?” said Puss, drawing to one side of the 
road. 

“Well, not now,” said the rider, drawing rein 
and looking at Puss with a good deal of interest. 
“Where’s your horse?” 

“Where’s my horse?” repeated Puss, looking 
about as if he expected to find one. 

“Yes, where’s your steed?” continued the 
stranger. 

“Haven’t got any,” said Puss. “My two legs 
are all that I have to carry me.” 

“Get up behind me,” said the stranger. “My 
name is Yankee Doodle Dandy, and a Yankee is 
always willing to give a fellow-traveler a lift, 
whether he be on the high seas or on the 
road.” 

“Thank you, my fellow-traveler,” replied Puss, 
and he sprang nimbly to the saddle and clung 
tightly to the coat-tails of Yankee Doodle Dandy. 

“Git-ap!” cried the latter, and away went the 
pony down the road. In a short time the towers 
and church steeples of a town came into view. 

22 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

Suddenly a queer-looking figure tumbled down 
from the sky on to the road just in front of them. 
Yankee Doodle Dandy reined in his horse just 
in time; otherwise he would have run over the 
Man in the Moon. 

“Why don’t you fall any other place but right 
in front of my horse?” asked Yankee Doodle 
Dandy, in a stern voice. 

“Couldn’t help it,” answered the Man in the 
Moon. “You must remember it’s not such an 
easy thing to hit the exact spot you intend to 
when you jump all the way from the moon. 
It’s almost impossible. I’ve even heard that an 
aeroplane has some difficulty in dropping bombs 
so that they hit the mark.” 

“Well, I’ve heard that, too,” admitted Yankee 
Doodle Dandy, “although up to this time Yan- 
keeville has not suffered from any air attacks.” 

“Well, don’t be too sure,” answered the Man 
in the Moon. “I’ve seen a few things from my 
moon house that you never even dreamed of.” 

“Did you never hear the rhyme about the 
Man in the Moon?” Puss asked, politely. 

“No, I never did,” said the Man in the 
Moon. 

“What!” exclaimed Puss in surprise. 

“The Man in the Moon came tumbling down 
And asked the way to Norwich; 

He went by the south and burnt his mouth 
With eating cold pease porridge.” 

23 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“Ha, ha!” laughed the Man in the Moon, 
“you are joking; I’m sure you are,” and he 
turned his footsteps toward the south. 

“ ‘He went by the south and burnt his mouth,’ ” 
said Puss. 

“We can’t help it,” said Yankee Doodle; “he 
will go that way.” 


PUSS SINGS A SONG AND HELPS A 
BEGGAR 


A FTER he had said good-by to Yankee 
* Doodle Dandy, Puss, Jr., had a good time 
playing all the morning with some little boys 
whom he met. One of the little boys got out his 
hobby-horse and he and Puss, Jr., took turns 
galloping up and down the sidewalk. 

“I had a little hobby-horse, 

And it was dapple gray; 

Its head was made of pea straw. 

Its tail was made of hay,” 

sang his mother from the front porch. “My 
little boy has had a fine time,” she said, “but 
he must come in now and rest, for it is almost 
luncheon-time.” 

“And I must be going,” said Puss, Jr., “for 
I have many miles yet to travel ere I find my 
father, Puss in Boots.” 

“You have been so kind,” said the little boy’s 
mother as she shook hands with Puss. 

“Good-by!” cried the little boy, quite sorrow- 

25 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


fully, waving his hat as Puss disappeared down 
the street. 

“Heigh-ho!” said Puss to himself, “once more 
on my journey. I’m a wandering minstrel, as it 
were,” and to suit his words he began to sing: 

“A wandering little cat am I, 

Seeking father cat. 

In my paw my trusty staff. 

On my head my hat 
With the magic plume the owl' 

Gave to me one day. 

When the journey ends I’ll have 
Lots of time to play!” 

“A pussy-cat poet!” cried a voice close at 
hand. 

Puss, Jr., started and turned. At his side stood 
a beggar-man. 

“I’m hungry,” said the poor fellow, “and 
poets, I hear, are always generous,” and he held 
out his hat for Puss to drop in a penny. 

“Are they?” inquired Puss, with a grin; he 
put his hand into his pocket and took out a 
sixpence. “Here, my good man,” he said, “take 
this little piece of money. It is more than I will 
get for the song which you seem to admire so 
much. 

“What are you going to buy with the money?” 
he asked, after they had walked along for some 
time. They had left the city and were now in 
the country. 


26 


\ 



“WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BUY WlTlt THE MONEY?” PUSS 

ASKED 

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THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

‘*I’m going to get some pease porridge hot,” 
answered the beggar. “I’m going to spend that 
sixpence in short order! I haven’t had a thing 
to eat since yesterday morning.” 

“I have never gone hungry so long as that,” 
said Puss. “I think I’ve been pretty lucky 
since I started out to find my father, Puss in 
Boots.” 

“Puss in Boots!” exclaimed the beggar-man 
with surprise. “Why, I once stopped at a castle 
where there was a most wonderful cat. He was 
the seneschal, I think, and a most intelligent 
animal.” 

“Where was the castle?” asked Puss. “I 
mean, in what country?” 

“I don’t remember,” replied the beggar-man. 
“You see, I have begged at so many back doors 
and so many postern gates that I have them all 
jumbled up together in my memory.” 

“Dear me,” said Puss. “Will I ever find any¬ 
body who really knows where my father lives?” 

‘‘Pease porridge hot. 

Pease porridge cold, 

Pease porridge in the pot. 

Nine days old.” 

Along the road came a man with a big 
white apron over his coat. In front of him 
' he wheeled a little cart in which was a large 
pot of porridge. 


Z9 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“Some like it hot, 

Some like it cold. 

Some like it in the pot. 

Nine days old.” 

“Well, it won’t be in that pot even nine min¬ 
utes!” cried the beggar-man. “Here, my good 
friend,” he cried, “give me sixpence worth of 
your porridge, and be quick about it.” 

“Don’t be in a hurry,” said the porridge-man. 
“Where’s the sixpence?” 

“Here in my good right hand,” replied the 
beggar-man. 

“Ah!” said the porridge-man, “you shall have 
your porridge.” 

“I will also have some,” said Puss. 

“Hot or cold?” asked the man. 

“You take yours hot and I’ll take mine cold,” 
said the beggar-man, and in a few minutes the 
porridge was all gone. 


PUSS FOLLOWS WEE WILLIE WINKIE 


T HE vesper bells were ringing as Puss, Jr., 
entered the great gate that led into the 
city of Babylon. Along the street the lamps 
were being lighted and their flickering gleams 
sent the shadows hiding in building and alley. 

Puss, however, in spite of shadows, trudged 
on with a brave heart, waiting for an opportunity 
to get his supper and a comfortable place to 
sleep. 

Suddenly he was startled by a strange sight. 
A small boy in his nightgown came racing down 
the street: 

“Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town, 

Up-stairs and down-stairs in his nightgown, 

Rapping at the windows, crying through the lock, 

‘ Are the children in their beds? It’s past eight o’clock!’ ” 

“Wait for me!” cried Puss, Jr., but Wee Willie 
Winkie did not stop. On he ran, turning the 
next corner before Puss could overtake him. 
Half-way down the block Puss stopped and ran 
up the steps of a small house. Lifting the big 
31 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


brass knocker, he let it fall with a rap that soon 
brought a maid to the door. 

“Goodness me!” she exclaimed. “What have 
we here?” 

“Is anybody at home?” said Puss, flicking the 
dust off the red tops of his boots in a most un¬ 
concerned way, as if, indeed, he had been accus¬ 
tomed to making calls all his life. 

The maid held out a little silver tray. “I will 
take your card.” 

Poor Puss! He didn’t have any! 

“But I’m Puss in Boots, Junior,” he said, 
with such a lovely purr that the maid opened the 
door wide: 

“Come in, dear Puss, Junior.” 

Just then Wee Willie Winkie ran down the 
stairs, crying: “Are the children in their beds? 
It’s past eight o’clock.” Closing the front door, 
he whispered through the keyhole, “Are the 
children in their beds?” And before he reached 
the sidewalk he turned back and, rapping on the 
window, cried, “It’s past eight o’clock!” 

“Little kittens don’t need Wee Willie Winkie, 
I guess,” said the maid, tickling Puss, Jr.’s, head. 

“Hush-a-bye, baby, lie still with thy daddy; 

Thy mammy has gone to the mill 
To get some meal to bake a cake, 

So pray, my dear baby, lie still.” 

The lullaby made Puss, Jr., sleepy, for the man’s 
voice was low and tender, and Puss was very tired. 

32 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

In a sleepy voice he asked, “And has the 
mother gone to the mill to get the meal for the 
cake? ,, 

“Indeed she has,” replied the maid. 

After this she went into the kitchen. Puss 
gazed about him for a while and then dropped 
off to sleep, hearing the drowsy voice of the man 
up-stairs singing: 

“ Hush-a-bye, baby, lie still with thy daddy.” 

All was very quiet. “Tick-tock, tick-tock,” 
said the big clock, and a mouse peeped out of his 
hole and laughed to himself when he saw Puss 
fast asleep. He tiptoed over to the red-topped 
boots t‘hat had fallen off Puss, Jr.’s, tired little 
feet, and even crawled inside. Perhaps he wanted 
to tell his father how brave he had been to go 
inside a big cat’s high-top boots while the owner 
snored close by. Presently he ran over to the 
hole in the wall. I imagine it did not take him 
long to tell his story, for in a few minutes three 
little mice crept out and tiptoed over to where 
Puss lay sleeping so soundly. 

“Did you ever see any nicer boots than these?” 

Mr. Mouse put on a very wise expression. 

“They are certainly a very fine pair of boots,” 
said he, “and they have the mark of a royal 
cobbler.” 

“Gracious me! how interesting!” cried Mrs. 
Mouse; “let me take a look.” And she inspected 
33 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


Puss, Jr.’s, footwear with much interest. “Beau¬ 
tifully made,” she said. “This must be a royal 
cat, for otherwise why should he have a royal 
cobbler?” 

“I only hope he is not a royal mouser,” replied 
Mr. Mouse, “and I think, now that we have seen 
all we have, we had better return, for who knows 
when he may awake?” 

So they scampered off, leaving Puss, Jr., still 
sound asleep. 


PUSS, JR., MEETS THREE JOLLY WELSH¬ 
MEN AND THE QUEEN OF HEARTS 

A S Puss, Jr:, staff in hand, wandered down 
> the green hills to the lowlands, he came 
to a sandy beach, and there stood three jolly 
Welshmen looking toward the sea: 

One said it was a ship. 

The other he said “Nay,” 

The third one said it was a house 
With the chimney blown away. 

“IPs nothing of the sort,” cried Puss, Jr., 
jumping nimbly about, ‘‘it's nothing of the sort.” 

“Perhaps it’s a submarine,” suggested one of 
the three jolly Welshmen, walking over to inspect 
the little craft. 

“Wrong again,” tooted a little owl who was 
perched upon a tree close by. 

“It looks like a cheese,” suggested the smallest 
of the three jolly Welshmen. 

“Nonsense,” answered Puss, Jr. “Who ever 
heard of a person sailing about in a cheese?” 
“Well, I didn’t mean a Swiss cheese,” replied 
35 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


the Welshman who up to this time had said 
nothing. “Swiss cheeses are full of holes. I 
guess they wouldn’t float very long.” 

“This boat has a big crack in it,” said Puss. 
“Just look and see for yourself.” 

“Crackers and cheese!” laughed one of the 
three jolly Welshmen. “How do you like my 
joke?” 

“It makes me feel hungry,” said Puss, Jr. 
“I’ve had nothing to eat for a long time.” 

“Come with us, then,” said the three jolly 
Welshmen; “ we’ll take you to see the Queen.” 

“I don’t look very neat,” replied Puss, rubbing 
the salt spray from his boot-tops. 

“Neither do I,” cried the little owl, preening 
his feathers and stretching out his tail. “I’m 
all ruffled up.” 

“Well, the Queen’s making tarts to-day,” 
cried the three jolly Welshmen all at once. 
“We’re going, anyway.” 

Puss, Jr., and the little owl waited no longer, 
but followed the three Welshmen at once. In 
the distance could be seen the turrets of a stately 
castle. On arriving at the postern gate they were 
admitted after a slight delay. In the court¬ 
yard all was bustle and excitement. On long 
tables were spread the most delicious-looking 
tarts—raspberry, strawberry, lemon, apple, and 
all the other delicious varieties that could be 
imagined. Puss, Jr.’s, mouth fairly watered at 
36 



PUSS JOINED IN THE CHASE TO HELP THE QUEEN 




























THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


the sight, and the little owl could hardly restrain 
himself from picking out strawberries that pro¬ 
truded from under the crust of a tart near at 
hand. The three jolly Welshmen also showed 
signs of impatience. They were as anxious to 
taste the tarts as were their small companions. 

At that instant a great commotion arose. The 
Knave of Hearts was seen rushing away with a 
whole trayful of tarts. After him ran the Queen, 
holding up her long train so as to run faster. 
Puss joined in the chase to help the Queen. 





PUSS LEARNS WHERE HIS FATHER IS 
AND RECEIVES A TART FROM THE 
QUEEN 

T HE Knave of Hearts was a pretty good run¬ 
ner, and Puss, Jr., found it no easy task to 
catch him. Finally, however, he did, and after 
some difficulty brought him back to the castle. 
As they entered the postern gate, 

The King of Hearts 
Called for those tarts, 

And beat the Knave full sore. 

“I’m glad I didn’t take a tart,” said Puss, 
in a whisper to his little friend the owl, while 
the three jolly Welshmen looked much relieved 
to think that they had not touched one, either. 
At this point the Queen came graciously forward 
and offered them all a tart apiece. 

“How do you like it?” she asked Puss, smiling 
in a kind way. “You deserve much more than 
a tart for having caught that naughty Knave. 
What can I do to reward you?” 

40 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

Puss carefully wiped his whiskers with his 
pocket-handkerchief before replying. “Your 
Majesty,” he answered, “I am in search of my 
illustrious father. Puss in Boots. Could you 
but direct me to him I shall consider you have 
more than repaid me for my trouble.” 

“Come into the castle,” said the Queen, “and 
I will have my seneschal inquire. No doubt he 
will know, as he is a very wise man and an old 
retainer.” So saying, she led the way into the 
castle, followed by Puss, Jr., and the little owl. 

“Puss in Boots? Puss in Boots?” repeated the 
old man, in an inquiring tone, talking half to 
himself. “Why, is he not in the employ of my 
Lord of Carabas?” 

“Yes, indeed!” cried the Queen. “Now I re¬ 
member. My dear Puss in Boots, Junior, you 
still have a long journey before you; but to the 
brave all things are possible. Although he lives 
far beyond the border-line of Mother Goose 
Land, a good traveler need not despair.” 

“No, indeed, your Highness,” replied Puss, Jr., 
“I have a good heart and strong legs. ’Tis 
but a question of time before I see him, for dan¬ 
ger I fear not, neither stony roads nor stormy 
seas.” 

“Bravely said,” cried the Queen. “But who 
is your little friend?” she added, turning to look 
at the owl, who had perched himself on the 
shoulder of Puss, Jr. 


41 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“He is the owner of the ‘beautiful pea-green 
boat/” replied Puss, “and to him I owe much, 
for had he not come to my rescue when the 
Giant of the Bean-stalk pursued me I should have 
been captured. His boat was on the shore and 
we sailed away just in time.” 

“Most exciting,” said the Queen; “and so 
that is how you landed on Cranberry Tart 
Island?” 

“Yes, your Highness,” said Puss, “but I did 
not know it was an island nor that it was called 
4 Cranberry Tart.’ ” 

“Well, it is,” replied the Queen, “and if you 
will spend the night here I will see that you 
reach the mainland to-morrow without delay.” 

So Puss, Jr., consented to spend the night 
in the stately castle of Tart Island. 


PUSS CROSSES A WONDERFUL BRIDGE 


T HE next morning, bright and early, Puss, 
Jr., left the stately castle of Cranberry 
Tart Island and continued his journey. The 
Queen had bidden him a kind farewell, at the 
same time instructing one of her retainers to 
show him the bridge connecting Cranberry Tart 
Island with the mainland. 

On arriving at the bridge Puss, Jr., was most 
surprised to see that it was built entirely of 
gingerbread. “Goodness!” he exclaimed to him¬ 
self, “if many stopped on their way over to 
take a bite, there would soon be no bridge left.” 

Probably the builder had been aware of this 
fact, for at the entrance of the bridge was dis¬ 
played a large sign which read as follows: 

No loitering allowed on the bridge. The gingerbread must 
not be eaten, under penalty of a fine and imprisonment. 

“It looks pretty stale, anyway,” tooted the 
little owl, who blinked and winked in the early 
morning light as he flew beside Puss, Jr. 

“You can’t see very well, my dear friend,” 
answered Puss. “It looks perfectly delicious to 
me. 

4 


43 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

“Never mind how it looks,” said the retainer, 
overhearing Puss, Jr.’s, remark. “You must 
obey the law.” 

“I have no intention of not obeying,” answered 
Puss, “nor would I endanger our safety by biting 
off a piece. Should the bridge fall into the water 
I should be forced to swim, and swimming is 
no easy matter for a cat, especially with high- 
top boots.” 

“Wisely said,” replied the retainer. “And 
now that we have crossed over safely, I will leave 
you to pursue your journey, for you need no 
further help from me.” 

“Thank you,” cried Puss, Jr. 

“Yet there is one thing I would warn you of,” 
replied the retainer, pausing before taking him¬ 
self off. “In yonder forest is a gingerbread cot¬ 
tage. Beware of it, for within lives a wicked 
witch.” With these words he turned away and 
crossed the gingerbread bridge that Jed back to 
Cranberry Tart Island. 

“A gingerbread cottage,” laughed Puss to him¬ 
self, following the path that led into the forest: 

“A gingerbread bridge 
And a gingerbread house, 

A gingerbread cat 

And a gingerbread mouse. 

But the gingerbread cat 
Ate the gingerbread mouse 
As she ran on the bridge 
From the gingerbread house.” 

44 


PUSS IN BOOTS, JR., VISITS THE OLD 
WOMAN IN THE SHOE 


I T was now about high noon; but the air was 
cool and balmy, for the sun hardly penetrated 
the deep recesses of the green forest. As Puss 
trudged along he sang a little song to himself. 
I think he must have been something of a poet, 
for unconsciously his words rhymed and the air 
also was of his own making. A little brown wren, 
who was hopping along on the green moss that 
covered the floor of the great forest, heard him, 
and she told it to some one who afterward told it 
to me. And this is the way the little song went: 

Through the woods, the cool woods. 

The green woods, sweet with balm and fir. 

To the music of the breeze 
Singing softly through the trees 
This the song I purr:— 

Happy he who travels far. 

Travels far and free. 

Over valley, over hill. 

Over smiling lea; 

Never weary of the road. 

Happy that he be 
Just a jolly traveler 
Wandering, like me! 

45 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

As Puss finished his song he emerged from 
the woods and found himself upon a broad 
highway. “ This must be the road that 
will lead me to my father’s home,” he said 
to himself, and joyfully proceeded on his 
journey. 

In the distance he saw what looked like a 
queer little house, but as he drew nearer he saw 
it wasn’t a house at all, but a big shoe. So many 
children were playing around, running in and 
out, that he would have found it difficult to 
count them, even if he had tried. 

“Hello!” he called out to a little boy who was 
the only one who hadn’t run into the shoe to 
tell mother that a big cat with boots on was com¬ 
ing up the garden walk. 

“Hello!” Puss, Jr., said again, and the little 
fellow bashfully put out his hand. 

“You have pretty boots,” he said, looking 
down at them. 

“Yes,” answered their owner, “I’m rather 
proud of them myself; but what are your little 
brothers and sisters afraid of?” he added, as he 
noticed them peeking at him out of the window. 
“I won’t hurt them.” 

Just then the Old Woman Who Lived in the 
Shoe came out, and, seeing one of her children 
talking to a strange cat who wore boots, she hur¬ 
ried up to them and asked: 

“Are you Puss in Boots?” 



OUT ON A LIMB, FROM WHICH HE DANGLED HIS RED-TOPPED 

BOOTS 




























































THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“No, ma’am, but I’m his son,” was the quick 
reply. “I’m Puss in Boots, Junior.” 

“Oh, of course,” she said. “I knew your 
father years ago, and for a moment I forgot how 
time flies. Yes, we were very good friends in 
those old days. He was a very fine cat.” 

Puss, Jr., nodded politely. 

“Won’t you come in?” the Old Woman asked, 
turning toward her shoe house, “though you 
may find it difficult, as I can hardly find room 
for all my children. I suppose people think 
I’m very cross,” she continued, as they managed 
to squeeze past the children in the hallway, 
“because I give them all a whipping before put¬ 
ting them to bed; but if I didn’t, those I put to 
bed first wouldn’t lie still. You see, by the time 
I get the last one to bed it’s time to take the 
first one up for breakfast.” 

Puss, Jr., felt very sorry for her, as she didn’t 
seem cross a bit, and the children clung to her 
skirt in a loving manner. 

“Will you have a bowl of broth?” she asked. v 
“It is about lunch-time, and I’m going to give 
the children some.” 

He thanked her, and said he would gladly, as 
he was hungry and tired. He sat down with 
the children, who had by this time arranged 
themselves in a row, each one with an empty 
bowl in his hands. The broth tasted very good, 
and Puss, Jr., felt so much better after eating it 
49 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


that he proposed a game of tag. They all ran 
outside and stood around in a ring while he 
counted “eeny, meeny, miney, mo,” till all 
were out except himself. 

“You’re it!” the children cried, gleefully. 

What a frolic followed! He finally caught the 
biggest boy, making believe for some time to 
miss the little tots, who screamed with fun as 
he chased them in and out among the trees. 

It was a different matter, however, when it 
came to catch Puss, Jr. At last, with a jump, 
he ran up a tree and out on a limb, from which 
he dangled his red-topped boots over their heads. 
When every one gave up, he came down, and, 
after thanking the Old Woman for her kindness 
with a flourish and bow, he resumed his journey. 


PUSS, JR., JOINS THE CIRCUS 


AS Puss, Jr., neared a pretty village his at- 
iT tention was attracted to a large tent in a 
field. Gaily colored wagons were standing close 
by, and every now and then a roar or a growl 
could be heard quite distinctly. 

“A circus!” cried Puss, and he hastened for¬ 
ward and entered a small opening in the fence. 
As he approached the great tent he heard a 
voice singing; it came from a little side-tent. 
It was a woman’s voice, quite soft and low: 

“Oh, mother, I’m to be married 
To Mr. Punchinello; 

To Mr. Pun, to Mr. Chin, to 
Mr. Nel, to Mr. Lo, 

Mr. Pun, Mr. Chin, Mr. Nel, Mr. Lo, 

To Mr. Punchinello.” 

As the last words died away a clown came 
from behind a circus-wagon. 

“Nello, Nello!” he called. 

“What is it, Punch?” inquired the owner of 
the pretty voice, appearing in the doorway of 
her tent. But before he could answer she 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


exclaimed: “Oh, look! See the cat with red- 
topped boots!” 

The clown turned and gazed at Puss, Jr., who 
came forward and put out his paw. 

“Won’t you join our circus?” said the clown, 
with an engaging smile. 

Puss did not reply for a moment. He was 
thinking it over quite seriously. Whether or not 
it would interfere with his finding his father was 
the question. While he stood debating as to 
what was the thing to do, the circus-lady came 
out of her tent and cried: 

“Oh, do join our circus, Sir Puss! I am sure 
you would be a great attraction. Every child 
in town would want to see a cat who wore boots!” 

At this Puss, Jr.’s, face was all smiles. In 
fact, his whiskers curled up in a most laughable 
way, making his little face quite irresistible. 

“Thank you both very much,” he replied, 
“but before I answer I must tell you that I am 
in search of my illustrious parent, the famous 
Puss in Boots. If I join your circus how am I to 
find my dear father?” 

“Easy as not,” answered the clown, quickly. 
“We are always on the move. A new town 
’most every day. We never linger long in any 
one spot.” 

“No, indeed, we don’t!” cried the circus-lady. 
“We give a performance this afternoon and to¬ 
night, and then we pack up and are off again,” 
52 


THE ADVENTURES OP PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“You can have one of the circus-horses to 
ride,” suggested the clown, by way of encour¬ 
agement; “you need not travel on foot if you 
join us.” 

“That’s a big inducement,” admitted Puss, 
Jr. 

“It’s a merry life,” added the circus-lady, 
“and when all the little children clap their hands 
and cry ‘Bravo!’ it’s very exciting.” 

“I’ll join,” said Puss; “here’s my paw!” 

“And here’s my hand,” said the clown. 

“And here’s mine,” cried the circus-lady. 

“Come with me,” said the clown, “and I’ll 
put your name on the program and you shall be 
a regular circus performer from now on.” 

And that is how Puss, Jr., joined the circus. 


PUSS, JR., PROVES TO BE A WONDERFUL 
CIRCUS PERFORMER 

I T was about eight-thirty o’clock in the evening. 

The big tent was all aglow with lights. A 
long line of people reached from the dusty 
roadway to the ticket-office. Flaring torches 
threw strange streaks of light over the field, 
lighting up the circus-wagons with their gleam¬ 
ing red bodies and yellow wheels. 

Now and then the roars of the lions and the 
trumpetings of the elephants could be heard, 
then the music of the band, a bugle-call, a shrill 
voice, a snap of whips—all the familiar sounds 
of a traveling circus, as the evening breeze ruffled 
the many flags that decked the great white 
tent. Puss, Jr., stood by the side of the clown 
in the tan-bark ring and looked about him. On 
all sides were eager faces. Hundreds of children 
screamed and yelled as the clown came forward 
and motioned for silence. When the sounds had 
died away he spoke, loud and clear: 

“Ladies and gentlemen and little children, we 
have with us to-night the son of the famous 

54 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


Puss in Boots, the well-known nursery character, 
dearly loved by old and young. Puss, Junior, is 
in search of his father, but in he meantime has 
consented to join our circus. I venture to say 
that no other circus in the world has so wonderful 
a cat among its performers. You will all be 
charmed to see him act. His first performance 
will be to ride around the ring on our beautiful 
Arabian horse, White Marvel!” As the clown 
finished Puss jumped nimbly to the horse’s back 
and commenced riding around the ring as if he 
had been accustomed to this sort of thing all his 
life. 

The children clapped their hands, and the 
grown-ups smiled and nodded approvingly. The 
white horse broke into a gallop, but Puss stood 
first on one leg and then on the other, bowing 
gracefully here and there. Not once did he lose 
his balance, although he wore his red-topped 
boots, and to stand on the bare back of a horse 
under such conditions is not the easiest thing in 
the world. 

When the clown brought out a wooden ring 
covered with tissue-paper the crowd held its 
breath. Would Puss, Jr., dare jump through it? 
Around galloped the big white horse in a swift 
canter, Puss balancing himself on one leg. As 
he neared the clown, who stood on a big blue 
barrel close to the ringside, Puss gathered himself 
together for the jump. Through the tissue-paper 
55 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


he went like a bird on the wing, and landed 
safely on the horse’s back. 

A wild round of applause greeted his daring 
deed. The children clapped their hands and 
screamed, forgetting in their excitement to eat 
their peanuts and candy popcorn. The man who 
carried the pink lemonade in funny little glasses 
all set in rows in a tin tray stood still to watch. 
He forgot to cry, “Anybody want some delicious, 
pink lemonade?” because he was so excited over 
the success of the new member of the circus 
family. 

Then all the rest of the actor folk did their 
stunts; the monkeys played baseball, and the 
elephants had a boxing-match, and when all 
was over the clown and the circus-lady ran up to 
Puss, Jr., and said, “You were the star performer 
of the whole show!” which, of course, pleased 
Puss immensely. 


A TERRIBLE FIGHT STOPPED BY USING 
PLUM-CAKE 

AS the circus entered a town one bright, 
l \ sunny morning, the lion and the unicorn 
escaped from their cages. Great was the excite¬ 
ment! All the circus people started after them 
with long ropes, hoping to be able to lasso them. 

At first the townsfolk were greatly frightened, 
but gradually, as they found out that the lion 
and the unicorn paid little attention to them, 
their fear gave way to interest. It seems that 
the lion was an enemy of the unicorn, and as 
soon as they were free they began to fight. 

The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown, 
The Lion beat the Unicorn all around the town. 

Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown, 
Some gave them plum-cake and sent them out of town. 

If it had not been for the plum-cake I verily 
believe they would have been fighting still. But 
as soon as the unicorn saw the plum-cake he 
said to the lion: 


57 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“What’s the use of fighting, Leon? Let’s have 
a truce. In fact, I’m hungry.” 

“So am I,” replied the lion. “I haven’t had 
a sweet thing since I joined the circus. And you 
know how hard it is to see all the little boys and 
girls eating candy and popcorn and not be able 
to get even one little piece.” 

“That’s quite true,” replied the unicorn. 
“People seem to think all I require is hay. And 
as for you, they think raw meat is enough.” 

With these friendly words they stopped fight¬ 
ing and began to eat the plum-cake. All the 
townsfolk stood by watching them. When the 
circus-men arrived on the scene they were too 
surprised for the moment to do a thing. They 
just stood still and watched the two animals eat 
the cake, even waiting until the lion had picked 
up the last crumb and the unicorn the last 
raisin. Then they came forward very quietly 
and threw a rope first over the lion’s head and 
then over the unicorn’s, and led them back to 
their cages. Puss, Jr., who had by this time 
arrived on the scene, turned to the people and 
said: 

“Ladies and gentlemen, it was very kind of 
you to give plum-cake to our animals. It only 
goes to show what kindness will do. I hope you 
will appreciate how much we thank you for what 
you have done, and also that you will come to 
our show to-night. I can assure you we will give 

58 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

you a double bill to show you how much we 
appreciate what you have done for us.” 

“Hurrah!” cried the crowd. “Three cheers for 
Sir Cat!” 

That night there was a tremendous attendance. 
The tent was crowded. Everybody was in a jolly 
frame of mind. All the circus people did their 
best. Puss, Jr., jumped through three hoops 
without touching the back of the big white horse, 
and the clown was funnier than he had ever been 
in all his life. The circus-lady never looked so 
pretty, nor did she ever ride so well before. And 
it took the ticket-seller all night to count the 
money. 

5 


PUSS, JR., MEETS ANOTHER CAT AND 
MORALIZES ON CONTENTMENT 


F OR some time Puss, Jr., traveled with the 
circus, but at last, finding that he could 
make better time if he traveled alone, he said 
good-by and started off by himself. Perhaps he 
remembered the old saying, “He travels faster 
who travels alone.” At any rate, he made up 
his mind on this point and set bravely out by 
himself. 

But he was not lonely, for he was continually 
seeing new sights and new people. 

One morning as he trudged along a road bor¬ 
dered by green meadows he saw at some little 
distance ahead a large apple-tree. As he drew 
near a pussy-cat ran up the trunk. 

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree. 

Up went Pussy-Cat, and down went he; 

Down came Pussy-Cat, away Robin ran; 

Said Little Robin Redbreast, “Catch me if you can!” 
Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a wall, 

Pussy-Cat jumped after him, and almost got a fall; 

Little Robin chirp’d and sang, and what did Pussy say? 
Pussy-Cat said, “Mew,” and Robin flew away. 

60 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“What are you trying to do?” asked Puss in 
Boots, Jr., stopping in front of the tree and look¬ 
ing up at the pussy-cat, who sat upon the wall, 
looking after the robin, who had flown away. 

“I’m not trying to do anything,” replied the 
pussy-cat, crossly, “but I was wishing I had 
wings.” 

“They would be very nice,” replied Puss, Jr., 
reflectively; “they would be most convenient 
at times.” 

“Indeed they would!” answered the pussy-cat; 
“they’d be lots better even than red-topped 
boots.” 

Puss looked down at his feet. “Perhaps,” he 
answered, “but I have found my boots most 
helpful. Do you know,” he continued, “if peo¬ 
ple would be a little more contented with what 
they have I think they’d get more.” 

The pussy-cat did not answer for a few min¬ 
utes. Then she said: “What you say is very 
true. I suppose I ought to be thankful that I 
have such nice strong claws. It’s not hard work 
climbing trees, and, as far as running goes, my 
legs carry me very well. Perhaps I don’t need 
wings, after all.” 

“Well, I never saw a flying cat,” admitted 
Puss, Jr., “although I’ve seen some remarkable 
things since I started out to find my father. 
Puss in Boots.” 

“So you are a traveler,” said the pussy-cat, 
61 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


jumping down from the wall and walking up to 
Puss. “How long have you been seeking your 
father?” 

“A long, long time,” replied Puss, Jr. “Do 
you know, sometimes I almost get discouraged, 
for this is a big world and at times I feel so very, 
very small.” 

“Well, you come home with me,” said the 
pussy-cat, “and get a good rest. I think you’re 
tired out.” This was the truth, for he had trav¬ 
eled far that day. 


PUSS MEETS MOTHER GOOSE 

“O h> my pretty cock, oh, my handsome cock, 

I pray you do not crow before day. 

And your comb shall be made of the very beaten gold. 
And your wings of the silver so gray.” 

Puss, Jr., opened his eyes sleepily to find him¬ 
self in Mother Goose’s arms. They were seated 
on a gander’s back, who was flying along as if 
such a thing as traveling with two passengers 
was nothing at all. As Mother Goose finished 
her little verse, the gander alighted on the roof 
of a big red barn on which a weathercock sedately 
turned this way and that in the early morning 
breeze. The sun was just coming up, for it was 
early, very early. Puss rubbed his eyes and sat 
up. “And how’s my little pussy-cat?” asked 
Mother Goose, stroking him kindly. “Did he 
have a good night’s sleep?” 

“Yes, indeed, thank you,” answered Puss, now 
thoroughly awake and remembering how he had 
met Mother Goose the previous day, and how 
fortunate it was that she had agreed to take him 
back to Mother Goose Land. 

63 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“Cock-a-doodle-do!” said the weathercock. 

“Crow as much as you like,” said Mother 
Goose. “Now that Puss is awake you can make 
all the noise you wish. At first I thought we 
were not going to stop on your barn, Sir Chan- 
tecler, and that was the reason I asked you to 
delay your early morning crow so that we could 
be far away before you commenced. Puss is in 
need of all the sleep he can get, for in a few days 
he will be on his feet again. He has still a long 
ways to go ere he finds his famous father, Puss 
in Boots.” 

“Well,” answered the weathercock, “I didn’t 
crow before day, so kindly give me a gold comb 
and silver wings.” 

“That I will,” answered Mother Goose, “this 
very evening.” 

“And who will bring them?” asked the 
weathercock, for he was very vain, and is some¬ 
times called a weather-vane, perhaps for that 
reason. “Who will bring them to me, and how 
am I to know that a gold comb will be becoming 
or that silver wings will suit my complexion?” 

“Leave that to me,” said Mothef Goose, with 
a lofty air. “Weathercocks only know of the 
breezes that blow; they swing back and forth 
when the wind’s from the north, the south, east 
or west—they are never at rest.” 

“More poetry from Mother Goose,” sighed the 
weathercock. “If people must talk, why do 

64 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


they want to rhyme it out? Let them talk in 
good old prose. It suits me best.” 

Mother Goose evidently did not hear his re¬ 
marks, for she was busily feeding the gander. 
Puss was stretching his legs by walking along the 
roof and watching some sparrows who were 
chirping under the eaves. Presently she called 
Puss. “ We are off again,” she cried; “get aboard 
the goose-ship!” When they were comfortably 
seated she turned to the weathercock and said: 
“This evening the sun will gild your comb and 
silver your wings just before he goes behind yon¬ 
der western hill. Good-by!!’ 

The weathercock did not reply, and the gander 
did not wait, but flew away with his two passen¬ 
gers safely sitting on his back. 


TRIPPING WITH THE STARS 

“rp WINKLE, twinkle, little star, 

* How I wonder what you are! 

Up above the world so high. 

Like a diamond in the sky.” 

Puss repeated this little rhyme to himself as 
he looked at a lovely star that shone in the 
heavens with a soft and silvery light 

“I always liked that little song,” said Mother 
Goose. “ I’ve heard it time and again. Mothers 
always sing that to their babies just before they 
go to sleep.” 

“Do they?” asked Puss. “Mine never did. 
She used to sing about little mice and birds.” 

Mother Goose laughed heartily. “It all de¬ 
pends on whose little baby you are,” she said, 
“but I guess it all comes out all right in the end.” 

The gander said never a word. He was doubt¬ 
less too busy propelling his great wings and steer¬ 
ing with his tail to pay much attention to what 
his two passengers were saying. 

I don’t know whether there was a sign up like 
the ones they have in the cars, “Don’t talk to 
66 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

the motorman,” or not. At any rate, the gander 
observed the law, for he made no answer. On 
and on they went, through the night. Past 
cloud and star, over river and valley, hill and 
dale, swiftly and silently, for after these few re¬ 
marks both Mother Goose and Puss grew very 
sleepy. 

It must have been well on toward morning 
before they awoke. Nestled on a soft, feathery 
gander’s back, with the wind singing lullabies as 
you travel swiftly underneath the stars, is quite 
sufficient to keep any one asleep. It was indeed 
a mighty fine cradle, and if the morning sun had 
not poked his golden fingers into Puss, Jr.’s, eyes 
he might still have been sound asleep. 

“Mother Goose,” he cried, touching the dear 
old lady gently on the shoulder, “we are getting 
very near the earth. It’s time for you to wake 
up.” 

“To be sure it is,” she replied, rubbing her eyes 
and arranging her curls beneath her old peaked 
hat; “to be sure, and, dearie me! I believe I 
have actually overslept!” 

They were now close to the earth. The cocks 
were crowing lustily in the barn-yards, and every 
now and then the bark of a dog, faint but clear, 
would come to their ears. 

“It’s funny' to look at a house from the outside 
in the early morning,” said Puss. “I’ve always 
looked out from the inside.” 

67 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“Of course you have, my dear little traveler/’ 
answered Mother Goose, “but now that you are 
on your journey to find your famous father, 
Puss in Boots, you will see many things very 
differently/’ 

“Well,’’ said the gander, for the first time 
speaking, “I’m a bit tired, so I think I will 
alight near this old barn.” 

Puss was delighted, for he wanted once more 
to feel himself on earth. 


PUSS FINDS ADVENTURE AT THE TOP 
OF JACK’S FAMOUS BEAN-STALK 


T HE next morning as Puss, Jr., went jour¬ 
neying along he came in sight of a modest 
little cottage, in the garden of which was growing 
an immense bean-stalk, reaching up and up 
until its top was hidden in the clouds. On ap¬ 
proaching the front gate, a motherly-looking 
woman appeared in the doorway and looked 
curiously at Puss. 

“Good morning, ma’am,” said he, lifting his 
cap politely. 

“Good morning,” she replied, at the same time 
wiping a tear from her eyes. “Have you seen 
anything of my son Jack?” 

“No, ma’am,” answered Puss. “Has he not 
yet climbed down the bean-stalk?” 

“What!” exclaimed the good woman. “Do 
you mean to tell me he has climbed up this giant 
bean-stalk?” 

“Indeed he has,” answered Puss, “and if you 
will permit me I will climb up also. Maybe I 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


shall find him near the top, or possibly entangled 
in the vines.” 

The good woman gladly gave her consent and 
Puss sprang nimbly up the vine-like ladder. 
Up and up he climbed until he was lost to sight 
amid the white clouds in the sky. At last he 
reached the top, and, looking about him curi¬ 
ously, wondered which way to turn. Suddenly 
he heard a gentle cackling near at hand, and a 
small hen crawled out of a thicket that lay to 
the right of the path. 

“I’m tired to death laying golden eggs for that 
greedy giant, 

“To lay every day 
Is all work and no play,” 

she continued, unconsciously making a little 
rhyme. 

“But where is Jack?” asked Puss, after he had 
consoled her by saying that there was much 
harder work in the world than laying golden eggs. 

“Oh, he’s up at the giant’s house, hiding 
somewhere,” she replied. 

“Won’t you show me the way?” said Puss, 
“for I have a message from his mother to de¬ 
liver to him.” 

“Come along; follow me,” she cackled, and 
Puss walked by her side, politely helping her 
over the rough places, as the path became steeper 
and steeper. Near the top of the hill was the 
70 



“good morning, ma’am,” said he, lifting his cap politely 











































THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


giant’s house. But Puss was not afraid and 
boldly followed the little hen through the great 
doorway and presently found himself in the pres¬ 
ence of the giant. 

“Come, chick,” cried the giant, not noticing 
Puss. “Come, chick, and lay me a gold egg!” 

“I’m so tired to-day,” she replied, “won’t you 
let me off just for once?” 

“No, siree!” roared the giant. “Lay! lay!” 

“How dare you be so cruel, Sir Giant!” roared 
Puss as loud as he could, stepping forward and 
brandishing his staff. 

“Heighty tighty!” laughed the giant, “on 
one condition will I let off the little hen, and that 
is that you spend the night in my house and tell 
me some of your adventures.” 

Puss, Jr., bowed low and graciously. He was 
able now to reward the little hen for showing 
him the way, and as the guest of the giant, it 
would be much easier to find Jack. Puss made 
up his mind toward midnight to hunt over the 
entire house for him. 


PUSS DISCOVERS WHERE JACK IS 
HIDING 


P USS, JR., found the giant a very agreeable 
host. Perhaps it was because Puss told so 
many interesting stories of what he had seen 
and done since leaving the garret. 

“By the time you find your father,” roared 
the giant, for even when he whispered it sounded 
like thunder, “you will have traveled far and 
wide, my dear friend.” 

They were seated in the giant’s great living- 
room. A huge pipe was in his mouth, the smoke 
from which rose in a cloud as big as that from a 
factory chimney. Puss, Jr., was not the least 
bit dismayed, however, for he was naturally a 
brave cat, and his many adventures had given 
him an air of assurance as well as a liberal educa¬ 
tion. He sat opposite the giant and recounted 
his adventures one after another, much to the 
delight of his great host. All the while, however, 
Puss was scheming as to the best way to dis¬ 
cover Jack. He had made up his mind firmly 
that after his long climb up the bean-stalk, and 
74 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

the fact that he had been so lucky as to make a 
friend of the giant, he would allow nothing to 
turn him aside. 

Finally the giant fell sound asleep. Puss care¬ 
fully opened the door and tiptoed into the 
kitchen, where the giant’s wife was washing up 
the supper-dishes. As he entered he noticed 
that the oven door was open just a crack. “My 
good woman,” said Puss, “your husband is 
asleep, so I have taken this opportunity to 
thank you for the very fine supper of which I 
have just partaken.” 

The giant’s wife; started at the sound of his 
voice and immediately walked over and stood 
in front of the oven as if to guard it from view. 

“Ha, ha!” said Puss to himself. “I’ll wager 
Jack is in the oven. I wonder why the good 
woman mistrusts me. 

“Madam,” said Puss, “I’m in search of a 
little boy named Jack, and I have a message from 
his mother for him. Jack of the wonderful bean¬ 
stalk, and I am sure he is in yonder oven.” 

Puss, Jr., heard a scratching sound, then a 
creak, and in a moment Jack stepped from be¬ 
hind the giant’s wife, after carefully closing the 
oven door. 

“How do you do,” said Jack, coming forward, 
“and what does mother want?” 

“She is worried about you,” replied Puss, Jr., 
“and asked me to tell you, should I have the 
6 75 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


good fortune of meeting you, that she hoped you 
would return home, for she is so lonely.” 

“That I will,” answered Jack, “as soon as I 
have the opportunity.” He had hardly finished 
speaking when the heavy tread of the giant was 
heard. Jack jumped back into the oven, while 
the giant’s wife commenced talking to Puss, Jr., 
as if nothing whatever had happened. 

“Why did you leave me?” roared the giant, 
turning fiercely to Puss. 

“Why did you fall asleep?” asked Puss. 
“Were my tales not of sufficient interest to keep 
you awake?” 

“They were,” replied the giant, somewhat 
taken aback by the answer he received. “I 
guess I have the habit of falling asleep after sup¬ 
per. It’s mighty difficult to break a habit.” 

“It is, indeed,” said Puss. “I feel sleepy 
myself. Will you allow me not to break my 
habit of going to bed early?” 

The giant laughed long and loud. “Show 
him his room, mother,” he said, turning to his 
wife. So Puss said good night and followed her 
up-stairs, having made up his mind to meet Jack 
at midnight. 


PUSS AND JACK MAKE A BOLD RESCUE 


I T was midnight in th<e giant’s house. Puss 
Jr., heard the great clock strike twelve.. 
Softly he tiptoed down the stairs, holding his 
boots in one paw and his staff and cap in the 
other. When he reached the great living-room 
he peeped cautiously in. 

There sat the giant in the big arm-chair, fast 
asleep, the poor little hen that laid the golden 
eggs lying on the table, not daring to move. 

“How dare he break his word?” said Puss to 
himself. “He promised if I told him stories last 
night that he would not make the little hen lay 
her daily golden egg. Now he has gone and 
broken his promise.” 

The little hen moved uneasily and looked 
appealingly at Puss. 

“What can I do?” he said to himself. Sud¬ 
denly a bright idea came into his head, and, 
turning toward the kitchen, he opened the door 
very softly and peered in. To his great delight 
he saw Jack sound asleep in the big rocking- 
chair that the giant’s wife sat in during the 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


few moments of the day in which she was not 
hard at work. Puss, Jr., carefully set his boots 
down near the door and walked over to Jack. 
Fearing he might let out a cry of surprise upon 
seeing him, Puss paused. 

“How shall I waken him without startling 
him?” he asked himself. It was indeed a prob¬ 
lem. Should Jack give a scream the giant 
would wake and rush in. Then all would be lost. 
It was a trying moment for Puss, Jr. 

Suddenly an owl hooted outside. Jack slowly 
opened his eyes. 

“’S-sh!” cautioned Puss, quietly, “be careful!” 

“Don’t worry,” replied Jack in a whisper. 
“I’ve no desire to make the acquaintance of the 
giant. He wouldn’t care for my stories. He’d 
just eat me up.” 

“That he would,” said Puss. “He’s no good, 
either. He broke his promise to me last night,” 
and then Puss told Jack how the giant had said 
he would let the little hen off for once if Puss 
would tell some of his adventures. 

“And I spent all last evening telling him stories 
till I was tired out,” concluded Puss, “and now 
he has kept that poor little hen by his side all 
night long. She’s in the great living-room on 
the table, not daring to move. And the giant 
has the gold egg tightly grasped in his hand.” 

“Let’s rescue the little hen,” said Puss. 

“How can we?” asked Jack. 

78 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“Why, just run off with her,” replied Puss. 

“Where to?” said Jack, for he was still rather 
sleepy and his mind was not working as rapidly 
as Puss, Jr.’s. 

“Take her home to your mother,” whispered 
Puss. Together they crept into the room where 
the giant still lay snoring. Jack carefully picked 
up the little hen and started for the door. As 
he did so he knocked Puss, Jr.’s, staff from his 
paw. 

“Run!” cried Puss, as the giant opened his 
eyes. They fell upon Puss, for Jack had disap¬ 
peared down the bean-stalk. 

“You have stolen my hen!” he roared. 

Puss darted in another direction and the 
giant after him. Just then the little owl, who 
had awakened Jack, flew near and called out: 

“The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea 
In a beautiful pea-green boat.” 

And this is the way Puss, Jr., escaped from the 
wicked giant. 


PUSS, JR., MEETS MR. ROWLEY FROG 

T HE following day Puss, Jr., was trudging 
along near the edge of a forest. The land 
was rather low and marshy, and the path was 
none too dry. He gingerly picked his way, 
avoiding as well as possible the muddy spots. 
Of a sudden his attention was arrested by a 
funny sight. 

A few feet in front of him, as he rounded a 
curve in the path, was a frog. On his head rested 
a large stove-pipe hat, much worn and weather¬ 
beaten. A large cigar was in his mouth, on 
which he puffed away vigorously, the clouds of 
smoke streaming out behind him like a long 
gray feather. 

“Hello, Mr. Rowley!” cried Puss. 

The frog turned. Taking the cigar out of his 
mouth, he answered, “How do you know my 
name?” 

“Just a good guess of mine, perhaps,” replied 
Puss. “But, anyway, there’s a famous Mr. 
Rowley in Mother Goose, so I took a chance.” 
“Well, I don’t want you to try to stop me,” 
80 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


said Rowley, “for I had enough fuss when I left 
home. You see, my people didn’t want me to 
go at all.” 

“Then why did you?” asked Puss, who by 
this time had come up to the frog. 

“Because I was tired to death of the old 
pond,” replied Rowley. “One has got to see 
the world some time, and when one is young is 
the time and not when one is old.” 

“Yes, ‘every dog must have his day,’” quoted 
Puss. 

“And every frog, too,” answered Rowley, 
pushing his high hat down on his head more 
securely and replacing the cigar between his lips. 

“And where are you going?” asked Puss. 

“A frog he would a-wooing go. 

Heigh-ho! says Rowley. 

Whether his mother would let him or no. 

With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach. 
Heigh-ho! says Anthony Rowley.” 

“Well, then, Anthony!” cried Puss, taking the 
frog by the arm, “let us be comrades. For it is 
lonesome business, this traveling alone, and I 
would have a good friend to talk to while we 
trudge along.” 

“But I already have a companion,” answered 
Mr. Rowley. “Don’t you remember the second 
verse in Mother Goose?” 

“Not exactly,” replied Puss, Jr. 

81 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“ Well, this is the way it goes,” answered the 
frog. “It s describing me, of course.” 

“So off he set with his opera hat, 

Heigh-ho! says Rowley. 

And on the road he met with a rat. 

‘Pray, Mr. Rat, will you go with me?’ 

Heigh-ho! says Rowley, 

‘Kind Mrs. Mousey for to see?’” 

At that moment the rat jumped out of the 
bushes. “Don’t be afraid,” said Puss, Jr. 

“All right,” replied the rat, “I sha’n’t.” 

“Glad to have seen you both,” said Puss, Jr. 
“I can’t tarry long, for I must continue my 
journey.” 


PUSS IS HEARTILY WELCOMED BY JACK 
THE JUMPER 

I T was near nightfall. Puss, Jr., was weary 
and footsore, for he had traveled far. No one 
had given him a thing to eat all day, and he 
was faint from want of food. Darkness was com¬ 
ing upon him and he looked about him to find 
a place to sleep. 

In the distance a little light caught his eye, 
and, hastening his steps toward it, he soon came 
to a small cottage. Looking through the open 
door, he was surprised to see resting on the floor 
a small brass candlestick. It was the flame from 
this that had attracted his attention and drawn 
his weary feet forward. 

Jack be nimble. 

Jack be quick, 

And Jack jump over the candlestick. 

Over the candlestick leaped a small boy, and 
with a laugh turned toward the open door. 

“Can you jump over a lighted candlestick?” 
he asked. 

“I never tried,” said Puss, “but I guess I can.” 
83 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

“Don’t singe your tail!” cried Jack, as Puss 
prepared himself for the jump. 

“Don’t worry,” replied Puss, Jr. “I think too 
much of my tail to spoil one single little hair.” 

Gathering himself together, Puss jumped 
nimbly over the candle. 

“Good for you!” cried the little boy. 

“Oh, that’s nothing,” replied Puss. “I once 
belonged to a circus.” 

“You did?” cried the little boy. “Tell me 
about it.” 

“Well,” said Puss, “there isn’t much to tell. 
I was walking along one day and came up to a 
big tent. A man asked me if I would not like 
to join, and I said yes.” 

“What did you do?” asked the little boy. 

“Oh, I rode a horse around the ring. I jumped 
through hoops covered with tissue-paper, and I 
never slipped off. It was pretty good fun,” 
sighed Puss, Jr. “But, dear me, I’m so hungry! 
Can’t you get me some milk?” 

“Of course I can,” replied the little boy; “you 
just sit down and see that the candle doesn’t 
blow out, and I’ll run and tell mother.” In a 
few minutes he returned, followed by a moth¬ 
erly-looking woman. 

“Why, it’s Puss in Boots!” she said. 

“No, madam,” replied Puss; “but I’m his 
son, and have been these many months trying to 
find my dear father.” 


84 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

“And you haven’t found him yet?” said the 
good woman. 

“No, not yet,” replied our little hero, “but 
I hope to very soon.” 

“Well, you shall have a good supper,” said 
the kind woman, “for my little boy tells me 
you are hungry.” 

In a few minutes Puss was eating a hearty 
supper, and then he followed the little boy up 
to his bedroom, where they both slept soundly 
all night long after mother had blown out the 
light. 


OLD KING COLE’S FIDDLERS ARE 
RATHER RUDE TO PUSS 


CALD King Cole was a merry old soul. 

And a merry old soul was he; 

And he called for his pipe. 

And he called for his bowl, 

And he called for his fiddlers three. 

And every fiddler, he had a fin,e fiddle, 

And a very fine fiddle had he; 

“Tweedle dee, tweedle dee,” said the fiddlers; 

“Oh, there’s none so rare as can compare. 

With Old King Cole and his fiddlers three.” 

Cole Castle was a very magnificent one. Puss 
looked up at the great walls and sighed. “I 
wish I would find my dear father here, but I 
suppose I won’t.” 

“No, you won’t,” cried a voice, and one of 
the three fiddlers poked his head out of a window 
and laughed loud and long. “There are no cats 
in this castle.” 

“No cats allowed here,” cried the third fiddler, 
appearing at the postern gate. 

Puss, Jr., almost felt like crying. “Did you 
ever hear of Puss in Boots?” he asked. 

“Certainly,” replied all three fiddlers at once, 

h 86 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

“but he doesn’t live here. No cats do. We 
make all the noise in this castle. You don’t 
think for a moment Old King Cole could stand 
any more noise, do you?” 

“My father wouldn’t make any noise,” re¬ 
plied Puss, Jr., indignantly. 

“I never heard of a cat that didn’t,” said one 
of the fiddlers. 

“All cats make an awful noise at night,” said 
another. 

“They meow and cry like everything on the 
back fence,” said the third fiddler. . “They make 
more noise than a fiddle, and a worse noise than 
a fiddle out of tune.” 

“I don’t like you,” said Puss. “People who 
don’t like cats are not to be trusted.” 

“Ha, ha!” laughed all three fiddlers, “you’re 
jealous of us!” 

“Not the least,” replied Puss, stoutly. “I’m 
not jealous at all. I’m just indignant that you 
should make such a remark about my family.” 

“No harm meant,” said the three fiddlers, 
“no harm meant, my good Sir Cat.” 

“Very well, we won’t argue the matter,” said 
Puss, “for a traveler has no time to argue if he 
would reach his journey’s end. Time is precious, 
and I must be on my way. Only let me tell you, 
I have heard many a fiddle that made a worse 
noise than a cat,” and with this parting remark 
our little hero continued on his way. 

87 


THE MILLER OF THE DEE 


HAT a lovely old mill!” thought Puss, 



V V Jr. “Is that your ‘hush-a-by baby upon 
the tree-top’ ?” he asked the miller on entering 
the old mill. 

“No, sir-ee!” answered the jolly miller, with a 
jolly laugh. “Haven’t you ever heard the song 
about me? This is the way it goes: 

“There was a jolly miller once 
Lived on the River Dee; 

He worked and sang from morn till night. 

No lark so blithe as he. 

“And this the burden of his song 
Forever used to be: 

‘I care for nobody! No, not I! 

And nobody cares for me!’” 

“Doesn’t anybody care for you?” asked Puss. 
“It seems strange, for you are so jolly.” 

“Well,” answered the miller, “you see, it’s 
this way: I am here all alone all day; there’s 
no room in the mill except for me and the sacks 
of corn. It all belongs to me, even the old wil- 


88 



aren’t we great friends?” asked the miller 






























THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


low-tree. I let a little woman who lives quite 
near here hang the cradle on the limb every morn¬ 
ing. As she goes to work in the village, she puts 
her baby in the cradle and the wind rocks it to 
sleep until she comes back at noon. Then she 
goes away again and comes back at evening and 
takes the cradle home with her. The baby is 
very good; that is, it has been so far; but you 
can never tell how long a baby will be good.” 

“That’s true of every one,” said Puss, with 
much gravity. 

“If it ever starts crying—that is, a long crying 
spell, she’ll have to get another willow-tree or 
another baby. I can’t be bothered with a crying 
baby so close at hand.” 

“But you haven’t answered my question yet,” 
said Puss. 

“Oh,” replied the miller. “You mean because 
I care for nobody and nobody cares for me.” 

“Yes; I don’t quite understand it.” 

“Come inside and I’ll explain it to you,” said 
the miller. 

Puss walked inside and sat down on a bag of 
flour. “All I do is to grind corn for people,” 
continued the miller, sittin'g down on a dusty 
stool. “They bring their corn in to be ground 
and then they leave. When they come back the 
corn is ready for them,—that is, the flour. They 
take it away and I’m left all alone. So what do I 
do? Well, I make friends with a little mouse 

7 91 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


and a big rat that live in the old mill.” As he 
spoke the little mouse ran out of her hole and 
sat down by the miller. “We are great friends, 
aren’t we, mousie?” he said. 

The little mouse squeaked, “Yes, Mr. Miller.” 

Then the big rat came out and sat down by 
the miller, only on the other side. 

“Aren’t we great friends?” asked the miller. 

The rat said, “You are the best friend I have.” 
At which the miller smiled and Puss grinned. 

“Animals make good friends,” said the miller. 

“Yes, indeed,” replied Puss, “but rats and 
mice are so destructive. They eat your corn.” 

“Not much,” said the miller; “only a little 
bit.” 

“We only eat what we need,” said the mouse 
and the rat in chorus. 


PUSS, JR., RENDERS A MOTHER AID 


"puss, JR., was very much interested in the 
* jolly miller and his two small friends, the 
rat and the mouse. It seemed strange to Puss 
that a miller should have two such friends as 
these. But when he thought it over he saw there 
was much reason to the miller’s words. 

At the time the miller was talking the mouse 
and the rat kept a close watch on Puss, Jr. 
They knew from experience, most likely, that 
cats are not millers, and although Puss, Jr., with 
his boots and cap, his clothes and staff, did not 
resemble an ordinary cat, at the same time he 
was a cat. So the rat and the mouse kept at a 
safe distance. 

“Tell your little friends,” said Puss to the 
jolly miller, “that I won’t hurt a hair of them.” 

“Mousie,” said the miller, leaning over and 
patting the little mouse, “Sir Cat says he will 
not harm a hair of your tiny head.” 

“That’s very kind of him,” replied the little 
mouse in a squeaky voice. 

The rat made the same answer when the miller 
patted him. 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


Just then the mother of the baby who was in 
the cradle on the tree-top came by. She smiled 
at the miller, who took off his rusty, dusty cap. 
“There she goes/’ he said to Puss. “She’s going 
to take the cradle down now. She’ll take 4 cradle, 
and baby, and all’ home with her.” 

Puss stepped to the doorway to watch her. 
First she stood on tiptoe and looked into the 
cradle. Then she smiled and leaned over and 
kissed the baby, who began to crow and clap 
his hands. After she had kissed him many times 
she lifted him out of the cradle and danced him 
up and down on her knee. As she danced him 
gently up and down, she sang: 

“Down in the village, all the day long, 

Mother’s been singing a sweet little song; 

Just to herself she’s been singing all day. 

While baby’s been rocking and rocking away: 
‘Hush-a-by, baby, upon the tree-top. 

Mother is watching the tick-tocky clock; 

Counting the minutes go by until she 

Will be taking her baby boy down from the tree.’ ” 

Then she laid the baby over her shoulder and, 
picking up the cradle, started off for home. 

“Let me carry the cradle for you,” said Puss, 
Jr., running out of the mill. 

“That would be a great help,” she replied, 
“for baby is getting very heavy, and mother has 
been working hard all day.” 

So Puss put the cradle on his shoulder and, 

94 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


bowing to the miller, followed after her, while 
the baby kicked and crowed and tried to reach 
down and pull his whiskers. And Puss tickled 
the baby’s hand and winked at the baby, who 
gurgled and laughed and tried to pull the feather 
out of Puss, Jr.’s, cap. And the little mother 
forgot all about her own weariness, for baby lay 
so warm against her neck and his laugh tinkled 
so sweetly in her ear! 


THE MILKMAN’S HORSE, OLD 
NAGGETTY NOGG 

“ TOCKETY jog, jockety jog! 

Over the hills, and over the bog. 

“Jockety jog, jockety jog! 

Many a mile this day I’ve trod. 

“Jockety jog, jockety jog! 

I’m the milkman’s horse, old Naggetty Nogg.” 

“Are you really?” exclaimed Puss, Jr., looking 
up into the face of the old white horse. “And 
is your name ‘Naggetty Nogg’?” 

“Yes, that’s my name,” replied the old horse. 
“You see, every horse is a nag. So in some way 
or another they got to calling me ‘Naggetty,’ 
and then, after a while, they added on the 
‘Nogg.’ ” 

“Yes, every one has at least two names,” 
replied Puss, “and it is natural that you should 
have two, just like everybody. I like the name 
‘Naggetty Nogg’ very much. It’s quite fine.” 

“It sounds ‘horsy’ all right,” he answered, 

96 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


giving his tail a sweep to brush off some flies that 
had settled on his side. “It sounds real horsy.” 

“And it fits you perfectly,” said Puss. “You 
couldn’t have chosen a better name.” 

“But I didn’t choose it,” replied the old horse, 
quickly; “it was given to me. You see, my mas¬ 
ter and I start out early every morning. First 
we go to the farm to get the milk. It’s so early 
in the morning that it’s quite dark sometimes— 
that is, in the winter-time. The farmer comes 
out and opens the milk-house door with his key. 
The milk is all kept in great big pans in long 
rows. Pi’s very cool inside, for the milk-house 
is built over a spring that bubbles away all the 
time, running out of the old stone milk-house 
down to the meadows, where the cows drink it 
and the little fish swim in it. I know, because 
one time when my right forefoot was hurt they 
put me out in the meadow and many a good 
drink I’ve had from that same little brook. The 
bottom is all bright little stones, and the ferns 
hang over the edge of the bank, and the little 
birds hop down and drink. Oh, it’s very pleasant 
out there in the meadow. I sometimes wish my 
old foot would go lame again so that I might 
enjoy the green grass and the cool breezes. But 
that wouldn’t do at all. My master would lose 
money. He would have to hire another horse. 
And then, too, I would miss the mothers who 
come out to get the nice fresh milk from my 
97 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


master. Sometimes they have a baby in their 
arms and two or three small children hanging 
on to their skirts. And they always pat my nose 
and say: 

“‘How is old Naggetty Nogg to-day?’ Some¬ 
times I get a lump of sugar, too.” 

“You make me wish that I could drive a milk- 
wagon,” said Puss, Jr., with a sigh. “I’d like 
to be a milkman if I had a Naggetty Nogg to 
drive.” 


WHO IS A MAN’S MOST FAITHFUL 
FRIEND? 

W HAT is your master’s name?” asked Puss, 
Jr., as the old white milk-horse paused 
in his story. 

“Jockety jog, jockety jog! 

My master’s name is Roundey K. Rogg. 

“Jockety jog, jockety jog! 

He’s a good man; he drinks no grog. 

“Jockety jog, jockety jog! 

Never does he old Naggetty flog.” 

“That’s a blessing,” said Puss, Jr. “I’ve seen 
so many poor horses whipped. It’s a shame that 
a man can hurt a horse.” 

“Yes, a horse is a man’s most faithful friend,” 
replied old Naggetty. “He works for him all the 
time.” 

“Don’t you get tired?” asked Puss. 

“No-o-o,” replied the old horse, “not very 
tired. You see, when we start out we have the 
99 



THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


cans full. So we go very slowly so as not to 
churn the milk or spill it. If we went too fast 
the tops of the cans might fly off. Then on our 
way home, when all the milk has been delivered 
and all the hungry little children have had all 
they can drink, we come along at a good clip. 
The cans bump and make a most cheerful noise. 
And every step is nearer home, where my sup¬ 
per of oats is waiting for me, and my good mas¬ 
ter’s supper is waiting for him.” 

“I’d like to climb up into your wagon and go 
home with you,” said Puss. “Do you suppose 
your master would object?” 

“You can ask him,” replied the old horse. 
“But you mustn’t climb up until you do.” 

“Certainly not,” replied Puss, indignantly. “I 
wouldn’t take such a liberty. Tell me more 
about him.” The old horse whisked his tail and 
commenced: 

“Jockety jog, jockety jog! 

I’ll bear him safe through all this fog. 

“Jockety jog, jockety jog! 

How the darkness this way doth clog.” 

The old horse paused. “I was thinking of a 
dark night some time ago. The moon was hid¬ 
den behind the clouds and not a star was to be 
seen. We had gone a long ways out of our usual 
track, for my master had heard of a poor 
too 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


woman who had a sick baby, and he said he 
must take her some fresh milk. When we started 
back for home it was already pretty dark, but 
I knew the road. My master left it all to me. 
He just let the reins hang down over the dash¬ 
board and gave me my head. So I kept along, 
taking good care not to stumble. The tin cans 
bumped and banned together and the wheels 
creaked over the rough places. Master began 
to sing his favorite song: 

“Place the little candle-light 
In the window clear and bright. 

Tho’ the night be dim and dark 
I shall see its tiny spark.” 


PUSS BUYS A PAIR OF BOOTS MADE FOR 
HIS FAMOUS SIRE 

OOLOMON GRUNDY, 

^ Born on a Monday, 

Christened on Tuesday, 

Married on Wednesday, 

Took ill on Thursday, 

Worse on Friday, 

Died on Saturday, 

Buried on Sunday. 

This is the end of 
Solomon Grundy. 

Puss, Jr., stood before a little shop. In the 
window was this sign. “Too bad,” said Puss to 
himself; “he had such a nice little store.” 

“He did that!” cried a voice. Puss looked 
up and saw a little old woman. On her head was 
a queer green bonnet and over her shoulders hung 
a faded red shawl. “Are you Mrs. Grundy?” 
asked Puss. For some reason he felt sure it 
was, so he was not at all surprised when she 
answered yes. 

“And do you still run the little shop?” he 
asked. 


102 


* 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

“Yes, my good Sir Cat,” she replied, “and I 
have a very fine pair of red-topped boots which 
I would like to sell you.” 

“I guess I need a new pair,” said Puss, Jr., 
looking down at his own. There was a big hole 
in the toe of one and the other was minus a heel. 

“Walk in,” said little old Mrs. Grundy, “and 
you may try them on.” Puss followed her into 
the store and sat down. Mrs. Grundy climbed 
up a little step-ladder and took down a box from 
the top shelf. “This pair of boots,” she said, 
“was made once upon a time, very long ago, 
for a very famous cat whose name was Puss in 
Boots.” 

At these words Puss, Jr., jumped off his seat 
and threw his paws around Mrs. Grundy. 

“Gracious me!” she cried, “what are you 
doing?” 

“Oh, my dear madam,” cried Puss, “the fa¬ 
mous cat you mention is my father—I am Puss 
in Boots, Junior.” 

“Is that possible?” exclaimed Mrs. Grundy, 
letting the box fall with a bang to the floor. “Is 
that possible? I’m so glad that I saved these 
boots all these years. And to think that his son 
will wear them,” she added, sitting down in her 
excitement. 

“But I don’t care much about the boots!” 
cried Puss, Jr. “I want so badly to find my 
father. Can’t you tell me where he lives?” 

103 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


Mrs. Grundy looked puzzled. “I did know, 
my little friend,” she replied, “but I have clean 
forgotten now. Indeed I have,” she added, in 
a sympathetic voice, seeing how disappointed 
poor little Puss looked 

“Just the same, I will pay you well for the 
boots,” said Puss, Jr., “and be on my way at 
once. One never can tell what eacl^ day may 
bring, and I might find my father, although it 
grieves me to think you have forgotten just 
where he lives.” 


PUSS MEETS A MODEST MENDING MAN 
AND A JOLLY MILLER 

“ T F I’d as much money as I could spend 
A I never would cry old chairs to mend; 

Old chairs to mend, old chairs to mend, 

I never would cry old chairs to mend. 

“If I’d as much money as I could tell, 

I never would cry old clothes to sell; 

Old clothes to sell, old clothes to sell, 

I never would cry old clothes to sell.” 

“Well, what would you do?” asked Puss, Jr., 
coming up to the funny little man who was 
singing this song as he journeyed along over 
the roadway down the hill, across the bridge to 
the creaking mill. 

“I’d buy a little house and a little cow and a 
little pig, and I’d live all the days of my life as 
happy as could be,” replied the funny little man. 

“That wouldn’t take such an awful lot of 
money,” replied Puss. “You said in your song 
if you had ‘as much money as you could spend.’ 
I should think that would mean a big castle and 

a big automobile and a big yacht, and, and—” 

105 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“I couldn’t spend more than a little, for I’ve 
never had much practice in spending,” answered 
the funny little man. 

Before Puss could make reply they crossed the 
bridge and found themselves opposite the old 
mill. In the doorway stood the miller all covered 
with flour. His hat was dusty, too; even his 
hair and eyelashes were white with the dusty 
flour. 

“Any old chairs to mend?” asked the funny 
little man. 

“I have a stool here that has lost a leg,” re¬ 
plied the miller, “and an old clock that has lost 
a hand, and my wife has a pitcher that has lost 
a mouth and a needle that has no eye. Can you 
mend them all?” 

“You’d better call in the doctor,” said the 
funny little man; “he’s the person you want.” 

“Ha, ha!” roared the miller, “I was only 
joking.” 

“So was I,” answered the little man. “Give 
me the stool. I will heal that patient first, then 
will see about the others.” 

The miller presently brought out the injured 
stool, and while it was being mended he and Puss, 
Jr., had a talk. 

“Yes,” said the miller as Puss seated himself 
on a sack of flour, “I’m a busy man. It’s grind, 
grind all day long. Red corn and yellow corn 
and white corn from the cribs of the farmers. 

106 





“IF i’d AS MUCH MONEY AS I COULD SPEND 


8 






















THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


From the fields to my mill, and then from here 
to the baker or the kitchen, and then into cakes 
for little children. The big wheel goes round and 
round all day long and the water splashes and 
gurgles as it turns it. And then I tie up the 
sacks after they are well filled, and then the 
wagon comes and takes them away. Every day 
the same thing, year in and year out.” 

“It’s nice and cool,” said Puss, “and the flour 
smells sweet, and it’s home, you know. I’m 
a little tired with my long journey and wish I 
could find my dear father.” 

“ Cheer up,” said the miller. “You’ll find him 
soon, I’m sure of that.” 


PUSS OVERHEARS A PROPOSAL AND IS 
INVITED TO A WEDDING 


IT was a merry time, 

A When Jenny Wren was young. 

So neatly as she danced, 

And so sweetly as she sung— 

Robin Redbreast lost his heart; 

He was a gallant bird; 

He doffed his hat to Jenny, 

And thus to her he said: 

“My dearest Jenny Wren, 

If you will but be mine. 

You shall dine on cherry pie. 

And drink nice currant wine. 

“I’ll dress you like a goldfinch. 

Or like a peacock gay; 

So if you’ll have me, Jenny, 

Let us appoint the day.” 

While on his journey Puss, Jr., paused to listen 
to this sweet song. On a branch above him sat 
Robin Redbreast. With his hat held in one 
claw he bowed most beautifully to a little wren 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

that sat on a limb just below him. “I’ll dress 
you like a goldfinch,” repeated Robin, swinging 
his beautiful green hat with its long black feather 
up and down in the breeze. 

Jenny blushed behind her fan. 

And thus declared her mind: 

“Then let it be to-morrow, Bob; 

I’ll take your offer kind. 

“Cherry pie is very good. 

So is currant wine; 

But I’ll wea,r my russet gown. 

And never dress too fine.” 

“I’d like to buy her a beautiful gold dress,” 
said Robin Redbreast, turning to look at Puss, 
Jr., who stood very quietly at the foot of the 
tree. 

“I think her little russet gown is much nicer,” 
replied Puss. “To tell you the truth, she 
wouldn’t look very much like a wren if you 
dressed her like a goldfinch.” 

“Of course I wouldn’t,” chirruped little Jenny 
Wren; “and, besides, I wouldn’t feel at all like 
myself. I might think Robin had married a 
goldfinch instead of me; and I don’t want to 
think that.” 

“Of course you don’t,” said Puss, kindly. 

“You are both right,” said Robin Redbreast. 
“I only thought for the moment that she would 
ill 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


like a different gown, but she shall have her way. 
There is only one little bird in the world for me, 
and that is Jenny Wren.” 

Jenny hid her face behind her fan, for she was 
blushing very hard. Indeed, her cheeks were 
almost as red as Robin’s breast. 

“To-morrow, then, shall be our wedding-day,” 
said Robin, “and you are invited, my dear 
Puss, Junior.” 


PUSS AND SEVERAL ACQUAINTANCES 
JOURNEY TO THE WEDDING 


O OBIN rose up early, 

-*■ ^ Before the break of day; 

He flew to Jenny Wren’s house. 

To sing a roundelay. 

He met the Cock and Hen, 

And bade the Cock declare. 

This should be his wedding-day. 

With Jenny Wren, the fair. 

The Cock then blew his horn. 

To let the neighbors know 
This was Robin’s wedding-day. 

And they might see the show. 

Puss, Jr., was also up bright and early. He 
carefully polished his red-top boots and dusted 
his cap with the long feather in it. Then he 
started out for the woods. 

“ Cock-a-doodle-do!” cried the rooster. 

“How do you doodle-do, my noble Sir Chanti¬ 
cleer?” asked Puss, bowing. “I am on my way 
to Cock Robin’s wedding; he has given me an 
1X3 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


invitation,” he added, as the rooster stopped 
crowing to listen. 

A little squirrel ran down from his tree and 
stood upright on his hind legs as Puss came to 
the edge of the woods. “Follow me,” said Puss. 
“There is to be a fine wedding in your forest 
city this morning.” So the little squirrel ran 
after Puss. 

Presently they came to a little pond. On a 
big log sat a very friendly-looking old bullfrog. 
“Ker-chunk, ker-chunk!” he cried. 

“Get off your log and come with us,” said 
Puss, Jr. “There is to be a grand wedding in 
the woods.” 

The bullfrog jumped off his log into the 
water with a great splash and swam to the 
shore. Scrambling up the bank, he followed 
Puss and the squirrel. The three had only 
gone a little ways when they came to a chip¬ 
munk. 

“Hello, Chip!” cried the little squirrel. “Don’t 
you want to join us?” 

“Where are you going?” 

“To a wedding,” said Puss, Jr. 

“All right,” said the chipmunk, and he ran up 
and joined Puss, Jr.’s, little party. After going 
for some distance they came to a brook. 

“How shall we get across?” asked Puss, Jr. 

“I’m all right,” said the bullfrog. “I’ll swim.” 
And with a beautiful dive he landed in the mid- 
114 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


die of the stream and swam away to the other 
bank. 

“I wish my boots were rubber/’ said Puss. 
“I might wade across and carry you two on my 
back.” 

While they were wondering what to do, a musk¬ 
rat swam up to the bank and said: “Why don’t 
you walk over Beaver Dam? It’s only a little 
distance from here.” 

“Will it be perfectly safe?” asked the little 
squirrel, timidly. 

“Certainly, my dear friends,” replied the musk¬ 
rat. “You run.along the bank and I’ll show 
you the way.” 

So Puss and his small comrades followed the 
little muskrat till they reached Beaver Dam. 


THE GUESTS ARRIVE SAFELY AT THE 
WEDDING 


P USS, JR., continued on his way with his 
small comrades, the squirrel, the old bull¬ 
frog, the chipmunk, the muskrat, the beaver 
(who had joined them without being asked after 
they had paid him for crossing his dam), and 
the timid little rabbit. Presently they saw in 
the distance the wedding procession of Cock 
Robin and Jenny Wren. 

And first came Parson Rook, 

With his spectacles and band. 

And one of Mother Hubbard’s books 
He held within his hand. 

The Sparrow and the Tomtit, 

And many more, were there. 

All came to see the wedding 
Of Jenny Wren, the fair. 


Then followed him the Lark, 
For he could sweetly sing. 
And he was to be the clerk 
At Cock Robin’s wedding. 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

“Let us make haste,” cried Puss, Jr., “or we 
shall be late.” 

“Please don’t go so fast,” begged the old bull¬ 
frog. “ I’m a very poor walker.” 

“Here, climb up on my back,” said the squirrel. 
“You can lean against my tail. It will keep 
you from falling off.” 

This helped matters a great deal, and our little 
friends moved forward at a good pace. The old 
bullfrog was also much relieved. He was pretty 
tired and every once in a while gasped for breath. 
He was not too weary, however, to catch several 
flies on the way, and he winked quite solemnly at 
Puss, who grinned in return. As they neared the 
wedding procession they heard the lark singing. 

He sang of Robin’s love 
For little Jenny Wren; 

And when he came unto the end, 

Then he began again. 

The Goldfinch came on next. 

To give away the bride; 

The Linnet, being bridesmaid. 

Walked by Jenny’s side; 

And as she was a-walking. 

Said, “Upon my word, 

I think that your Cock Robin 
Is a very pretty bird.” 

“I think he is,” whispered Puss, Jr., to the 
squirrel. 


117 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“So do I,” said the chipmunk. 

“Ker-chunk,” said the old bullfrog, “he has 
a fine red vest. I always like white waistcoats, 
though,” he added, looking down at his own; 
“but then, you know, everybody doesn’t like the 
same thing.” 


PUSS IS WELCOMED AT THE WEDDING 
jL the birds of the forest seemed to be at 



the wedding of Cock Robin and little Jenny 
Wren, as Puss, Jr., and his little friends sat 
down beneath a big tree. The little squirrel cud¬ 
dled up to Puss, while the chipmunk sat close by. 
The muskrat and the beaver stood near at hand, 
while the rabbit and the old bullfrog, who had 
climbed off the squirrel’s back, looked out from 
behind the tree trunk. They were the most 
timid of all, so they hid behind the tree. 

All the birds were singing as sweetly as could 
be. It was certainly very beautiful wedding 
music. Perhaps the most exquisite strains came 
from 


The Blackbird and the Thrush, 

And charming Nightingale, 

Whose soft note sweetly echoes 
Through every grove and dale; 

The Bullfinch walked by Robin, 

And thus to him did say: 

“Pray mark, friend Robin Redbreast, 
That Goldfinch dressed so gay; 


119 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“What though her gay apparel 
Becomes her very well. 

Yet Jenny’s modest dress and look 
Must bear away the bell.’ , 

Just then Parson Rook looked over at them. 
“Why, Puss in Boots, Junior!” he called out. 
“Come over here,” and, turning to the wed¬ 
ding guests, he said: “There is the son of 
the famous Puss in Boots. We are honored 
to have so illustrious a person with us. And 
delighted, too, for he is a great traveler and a 
jolly good fellow.” 

Puss, Jr., arose and bowed. 

“Bring your little friends with you, also,” 
said Parson Rook, “for all the forest folk are 
welcome. Who is there more loved, I would 
like to know, than Robin Redbreast and little 
Jenny Wren?” 

“Nobody!” croaked the old bullfrog. 

“No one,” said Puss, Jr. 

“We all love Robin and Jenny,” cried the 
squirrel and the chipmunk. 

“And so do I,” “And so do I,” cried the 
beaver and the rabbit together. As they fin¬ 
ished the birds began to sing the wedding-march. 

Then came the bride and bridegroom. 

Quite plainly was she dressed. 

And blushed so much, her cheeks were 
As red as Robin’s breast, 

120 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


But Robin cheered her up; 

“My pretty Jen,” said he, 

“We’re going to be married. 

And happy we shall be.” 

“I’m going to give her a gold piece for good 
luck,” whispered Puss. 

“I’ve got a nut,” said the little squirrel. 

“And so have I!” said the chipmunk. “We’ll 
each give her a nut.” 

“I’ll give her a fresh-water pearl,” said the 
old bullfrog. 

The rabbit and the beaver looked at each 
other. “We’ll have to run home and get some¬ 
thing,” they cried. 


THE BRIDE RECEIVES SOME 
HANDSOME PRESENTS 


“TAON’T be gone long,” cried Puss, Jr., as 
the rabbit and the beaver ran off to their 
homes to get a present for Jenny Wren. “You 
had better hufry, or the wedding will be over 
by the time you return.” 

“Don’t worry about me,” said the rabbit, 
whisking away at a great rate. 

“I’ll be back, never fear,” said the beaver. 

Puss watched them out of sight, then he heard 
the parson begin again: 

“Oh, then,” says Parson Rook, 

, “Who gives this maid away?” 

“I do,” says the Goldfinch, 

“And her fortune I will pay; 

“Here’s a bag of grain of many sorts. 

And other things besides; 

Now happy be the bridegroom, 

And happy be the bride.” 

Presently the rabbit returned. “Do you think 
she will like this?” he asked Puss, Jr., holding 
up a little white powder-puff. “I made it all 

122 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

myself. I had it put away in a little box for 
safe-keeping.” 

“It’s very pretty,” said Puss, Jr., with a smile. 
“What little bunny’s tail did you cut off to 
make it with?” 

“Not mine,” replied the rabbit; “but don’t 
ask me too many questions.” 

Just then the beaver came panting up. 
“Whew!” he cried. “I’d rather travel by water 
than by land; but, anyhow, I’m here. How do 
you think she will like my present?” and he held 
up a little gold ring. 

“Just the thing!” cried Puss. “But where 
did you get it?” 

“Oh, I found it on the bottom of the brook 
one day,” replied the beaver, “so I picked it up 
and hung it on a nail; I thought it might come 
in handy some day.” 

“When shall we give her the present?” asked 
the squirrel. 

“Wait, wait,” said Puss; “they are not yet 
married. Listen to Parson Rook: 

“And will you have her, Robin, 

To be your wedded wife?” 

“Yes, I will,” says Robin, 

“And love her all my life.” 

“And will you have him, Jenny, 

Your husband now to be?” 

“Yes, I will,” says Jenny, 

“And love him heartily!” 

123 


9 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


Then on her finger fair 

Cock Robin put the ring; 

“ You’re married now,” says Parson Rook, 
While loud the lark did sing: 

“Happy be the bridegroom. 

And happy be the bride. 

And may not man, nor bird, nor beast. 
This happy pair divide.” 


PUSS MAKES A NEW FRIEND AND 
GAINS A STEED 


“ T TEIGH-HO!” cried Puss, Jr., swinging his 
A cane, as he marched merrily along— 
“heigh-ho for a short journey and a happy end¬ 
ing!” 

“Well said, my merrie Lord Cat,” cried a voice. 
A tinker by the roadside looked up as Puss was 
about to pass him by. 

“If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. 

If turnips were watches, 

I’d wear one at my side. 

And if ‘ifs’ and ‘ands’ 

Were pots and pans, 

There’d be no work for tinkers!” 


“I guess you are right, my good sir,” said 
Puss, pausing and looking at the old tins that 
the tinker had set down on the ground. “If 
wishes were horses, I’d have one at once, for 
four legs are better than two, and horses’ legs 
are meant to travel, while a cat’s are not made 
especially for that purpose.” 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“You are an observing cat,” said the tinker, 
with a twinkle in his eye. 

“I speak from experience, my good man,” 
said Puss, “for I have used my legs for traveling 
these many miles, and when I look at a horse, I 
cannot help thinking he has the better of me as 
far as legs go.” 

“And when I look at my legs,” said the tinker, 
“I think how well they would look astride of a 
good gray horse.” 

“Let us both make a wish,” suggested Puss, 
half in fun and half in earnest. “Wishes do come 
true at times, you know.” 

“Very good,” replied the tinker, “I’m wish¬ 
ing.” 

“And so am I,” said Puss. 

To their utter astonishment they heard a shrill 
neigh close at hand, and, turning to see what 
manner of steed had answered so quickly their 
wishes, they beheld two fine gray horses in the 
meadow close by. Leaning their heads over the 
fence rail, the two animals gazed at them with 
expectant eyes. 

“Why, they already have on their saddles and 
bridles! ’ 9 cried the tinker, with amazement. 4 4 Are 
you a fairy cat? Do your wishes always come 
true?” , 

“That is a nice question to answer,” replied 
Puss, “but in this case, you can see for yourself.” 

“Well,” said the tinker, “let us not refuse this 
126 


# 


✓ 





I GUESS YOU ARE RIGHT, MY GOOD SIR, 


SAID PUSS 






































/ 











THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


stroke of good luck. I, for one, shall mount one 
of yonder steeds.” 

“And I will ride the other,” cried Puss, nimbly 
springing over the fence. Thrusting his foot into 
the stirrup, he sprang into the saddle and waited 
for his friend the tinker. Alas for the clumsy 
tinker! As he attempted to mount, the bundle 
of old tins made such a rattle that both horses 
jumped in fright, and in another moment ran 
off at a great rate. Puss clung tightly to the 
reins, and, on looking back, saw the bewildered 
tinker still standing by the fence, while his horse 
careered across the meadow, kicking up his heels 
and snorting at a great rate. 


PUSS MEETS A HUNTER AND THEY 
BOTH LEARN THAT THE OWL 
IS A USEFUL BIRD 


ELL, that was a clumsy tinker,” said 



vv Puss to himself, as he guided his good 
gray horse into the highway. “But I suppose 
he is no rider, and therefore is safer upon his 
own two legs. At any rate, I cannot stop to 
inquire, nor would I be of any assistance. So 
I shall ride away, thankful at my good luck in 
having a steed for a mere wish. As wishes are 
horses, pussy-cats may ride,” he said, with a 


laugh. 


The gray horse proved a good roadster and 
covered many a mile before midday. Presently, 
on coming to a crossway, Puss decided to take 
the road that led through the woods. He had 
hardly entered when he saw a funny little man 
dressed like a huntsman. In his right hand he 
carried a bow and on his back was a quiver full 
of arrows. 

A small dog ran along at his heels, snuffing 
about continually, as if expecting to find a rab- 


130 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

bit or a squirrel. Before Puss had gone much 
farther, the funny little huntsman paused under 
a large tree, from a hole in which an old owl 
looked out, winking and blinking his eyes. 

There was an owl lived in an oak. 

Whiskey, Whaskey, Weedle; 

And all the words he ever spoke 
Were Fiddle, Faddle, Feedle. 

A sportsman chanced to come that way. 
Whiskey, Whaskey, Weedle; 

Said he, “I’ll shoot you, silly bird!’* 

So Fiddle, Faddle, Feedle. 

“Bow-wow!” yelped the little dog, suddenly 
catching sight of the old owl. 

“There now, you’ve gone and done it!” cried 
the funny little hunter, as the owl quickly drew 
in his head. “You’re a fine hunting-dog, you 
are!” 

The little dog hung his tail and walked away. 
In another moment, on catching sight of Puss 
on his big gray horse, he set up another wild 
barking. 

“What’s the matter now?” inquired the little 
huntsman. “Oh, it’s you, is it?” he exclaimed, 
suddenly seeing Puss. 

“Your little dog is a better watchman than a 
hunter,” said Puss, with a grin; “that is, he’s 
a good old scout.” 


131 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“ Well, I’m glad to find out he’s good for some¬ 
thing,” said the little hunter, “for he made me 
just now lose a good shot at an old owl that has 
been hooting and tooting around my house for 
many nights. I would have liked to put an arrow 
through his old head.” 

“You would, eh?” screamed the owl, suddenly 
poking his head through the hole. “Let me tell 
you, my good sir, that I have caught more rats 
and mice in your old barn than your cat has. Is 
this the way that you repay a usefid friend like 
me?” 

The little hunter dropped his bow. “I never 
thought of that,” he said, apologetically. 

“Well, next time think before you shoot,” 
cried the owl; “it may save you many a miss!” 


PUSS GOES ON A SHOPPING TRIP TO 
MAKE A LITTLE MAID HAPPY 

<<r PHE rose is red, the violet blue; 

A The gillyflower’s sweet, and so are you. 

These are the words you bade me say 
For a pair of new gloves on Easter Day.” 

Puss, Jr., looked down from his horse at a 
little girl who was swinging on the front gate. 
He pulled up his good gray horse: 

“A pair of new gloves on Easter Day? Is that 
what you want the most?” 

“Yes, indeed,” cried the little girl. “I’ve got 
a new bonnet with red ribbons on it, and also a 
gown of yellow and brown; a pair of silk hose of 
the color of rose, and a lovely new pin with a 
big diamond in. A parasol, too, of purple and 
blue.” 

“Wait a minute,” said Puss, “you talk so fast, 
and your words all rhyme, and you’ve got so 
many things, of so many different colors that— 
that I really don’t remember whether you said 
you had a pair of gloves, after all.” 

“No, my dear pussy-cat,” said the little maid, 
133 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


with a pout. “I have new shoes, and new every¬ 
thing but gloves. Now won’t you bring me a 
pair for Easter Day?” 

“Where shall I buy them?” asked Puss. “I 
don’t see any shops about, and if I must go all 
the way to London for them you’ll never receive 
them in time for this Easter.” 

“Not far from here,” cried the little maid,, 
“is a tiny shop where they make beautiful 
gloves. Take the first road to your right and 
then turn to your left, and then turn to your 
right, and then you’ll see it.” 

“Whew! Mew!” cried Puss. “Well, here 
goes. I’ll do the best I can, but if I do not return 
you will know that I turned to the left when I 
should have turned to the right, and then that 
I turned to the right when I should have turned' 
to the left, and so got all mixed up and never 
found the tiny shop where the beautiful gloves 
are made.” This was a long sentence for Puss, 
but he was learning how to make conversation 
after the manner of little girls! 

But his good gray horse must have remembered 
the directions, for he landed his small master 
safe at the glove-shop. Puss, Jr., bought a lovely 
pair of gloves and remounted his horse. Soon he 
was back again in front of the little gate where 
a short half-hour before the little girl had been 
swinging back and forth. She had disappeared, 
but he heard her singing. 

134 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


“Where are the gloves for Easter Day?” she 
cried, running out of the door of the cottage. 
“Here they are, my pretty one,” said Puss. 


“The rose is red, the violet blue; 

The gillyflower’s sweet, and so are you,” 

sang the little girl as she tried them on. 

“These are the words you bade me say 
For a pair of new gloves on Easter Day, 

“Aren’t they, dear Puss, Junior?” she said, with 
a smile, looking up at him. 


PUSS CONVERSES WITH AN INTELLI¬ 
GENT GRAY DONKEY 


“ T^ONKEY, donkey, old and gray, 

Ope your mouth and gently bray. 

Lift your ears and blow your horn 
To wake the world this sleepy morn,” 

called Puss, Jr., who always remembered his 
Mother Goose rhymes perfectly. 

The donkey paused in his grazing and looked 
up. “This sleepy morn,” he repeated. “I don’t 
call this a ‘sleepy morn.’ I should say it was 
very wide awake.” ' 

“I guess it is,” admitted Puss, “but, you see, 
I was only saying a little rhyme from Mother 
Goose” 

“Well, I don’t see how it applies to the 
present situation at all,” replied the donkey, 
in a rather ungracious manner. “The only 
thing you have right is the donkey part.” 

Puss felt rather crestfallen. To be corrected 
by a donkey, generally considered one of the 
stupidest of animals, was not at all to his liking. 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


Puss evidently forgot for the moment that all 
Mother Goose animals are very intelligent, for 
otherwise how would they have been celebrated 
in rhyme? But, like a wise cat, he took the re¬ 
buke meekly and said nothing. 

“Well,” said the donkey, after a pause, “can 
I do anything else for you, Sir Cat? Granting 
that it is too late to wake the morn, there may be 
other requests with which I will gladly comply.” 

“Gracious me!” thought Puss to himself, “he 
uses big words.” 

The donkey cocked up both ears as if awaiting 
Puss, Jr.’s, reply. 

“Which is the shorter road across Mother 
Goose Land?” inquired Puss. 

“I don’t know the exact number of miles,” 
replied the donkey, thoughtfully, “but the road 
to your left is the shorter. The one to your right 
leads to the seashore. Gingerbread Bridge is at 
the ending.” 

“What!” exclaimed Puss, Jr. “Why, you 
don’t say so!” 

“What do you know about Gingerbread 
Bridge?” asked the donkey. 

“I crossed it once, and not so very long ago, 
either,” replied Puss. 

“Then you certainly don’t want to take 
Gingerbread Road,” replied the donkey, “so it 
is not hard to choose which way to go.” 

“Thank you,” said Puss, turning his horse’s 
137 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


head down the road to the left. “I will take the 
left road because it is the right road!” 

“Ha, ha!” brayed the donkey, “that’s a good 
joke for a cat. May you have a pleasant jour¬ 
ney!” 

“Lift your ears and blow your horn; the 
sheep’s in the meadow, the cows’ in the corn!” 
cried Puss, gaily. “Although the morn is awake, 
I fear Boy Blue is still asleep.” 

And with these words our small hero cantered 
down the road and out of sight. 



PUSS MEETS A HAPPY FARMER BUT 
MISSES A GOOD MEAL 


T OWARD noon of a fine day Puss, Jr., halted 
his good gray horse near a meadow. Stand¬ 
ing near the fence, sharpening his scythe, stood a 
young farmer. His wide straw hat kept off the 
sun and his loose shirt and open collar let in the 
breeze which was blowing across the green grass. 
“Warm day,” said Puss, as he drew rein. 
“Well,” replied the farmer, “it’s not so bad. 
I don’t feel it.” And he commenced to sing: 

“My maid Mary she minds the dairy. 

While I go a-hoeing and mowing each morn, 
Gaily run the reel and the little spinning-wheel. 
Whilst I am singing and mowing my corn.” 

“Are farmers always so happy?” asked Puss 
when the man stopped singing. 

The farmer smiled and said: “My good sir, 
when one is blessed with a fine wife and a good 
farm he can beat a canary-bird at singing.” 
“You don’t say so!” said Puss, Jr. “But 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


suppose one has neither, what should such an 
unlucky one do?” 

“Don’t ask me,” said the farmer, setting to 
work again. “I’m a simple man, and what is 
happiness for me might not be for another.” 

As he swung his scythe back and forth the 
tall grass fell in graceful rows and the sweet scent 
of the new-mown hay was everywhere. Suddenly 
Puss saw a field-mouse scampering over the 
ground. This was too much for Puss. He had 
eaten nothing since breakfast, and he had not 
had a mouse to eat for so long that he had al¬ 
most forgotten how mice tasted. Jumping down 
from his good gray horse, he gave chase. 

“Go it, Sir Cat!” cried the farmer. “Don’t 
lose him.” 

Puss needed no words of encouragement. He 
longed for a good run, and his mouth fairly 
watered at the idea of a nice fat little mouse 
for lunch. But the field-mouse saw him coming 
and wasted no time. Away he went, hopping 
over the grass and looking wildly about for a 
place in which to hide. A trunk of a fallen tree 
at no great distance attracted his attention, and 
with a final burst of speed he reached it and 
crawled into a hole before Puss had the oppor¬ 
tunity to seize him by the tail. 

“Oh, pshaw!” cried Puss, sitting down on the 
log. “I surely thought I had him.” 

“You did, eh?” squeaked the little mouse, 
140 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


peering out of his hole and laughing at poor 
Puss. “I prefer to be inside this log rather than 
inside even so famous a character as Puss in 
Boots, Junior.” 

“How do you know my name?” asked Puss, 
surprised at what he heard. 

“Why, I’m one of the three blind mice whose 
tails the farmer’s wife cut off,” said the mouse. 

“I thought there was very little tail to you,” 
said Puss, “or else you went into the hole so 
fast that it made your tail look very short, for 
I couldn’t even get a little hold on it.” 

“Well, having my tail clipped did me some 
good,” said the mouse. 


PUSS HELPS A STRANGER CATCH A 
RUNAWAY PIG 

“'T'O market, to market, to buy a fat pig, 

* Home again, home again, jiggety jig. 

To market, to market, to buy a fat hog, 

Home again, home again, jiggety jog. 

To market, to market, to buy a plum bun. 

Home again, home again, market is done.” 

A funny little man came dancing down the 
road. Before him he drove a fat pig, which 
squeaked and grunted loudly. To one of its 
hind legs was fastened a rope, the other end of 
which the funny little man held tightly in his 
hand. 


“To market, to market, to buy a fat pig. 
Home again, home again, jiggety jig.” 


sang the little old man. “How do you like my 
piggety pig?” he asked, looking up at Puss, Jr., 
who had stopped his good gray horse to watch 
the funny sight. 

“He looks like a fine pig,” replied Puss. 

142 



4 4 


)) 


TO MARKET, TO MARKET, TO BUY A FAT PIG 



















THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

“Whoa, there, piggety pig!” cried the old 
man as the pig began to struggle to get away. 

“Look out!” cried Puss. But the warning 
came too late. The pig had wriggled his foot 
out of the noose and went racing down the 
road. 

“Take me up behind you!” cried the little 
old man. “Then let us follow and catch him.” 

“Jump up! Quick about it!” cried Puss, Jr. 

In a moment the little old man was on the 
good gray horse, who immediately set off at a 
gallop to overtake the piggety pig. It was a 
long race, for he had a good head start and terror 
lent wings to his feet. 

“Git up!” cried Puss, digging his heels into 
the sides of the good gray horse. “Git up! 
Don’t you see the pig is getting away from us?” 

“Neigh, neigh!” cried the good gray horse as 
he gave a spring forward. 

“Then go faster!” screamed the little old man. 

“Gid ap!” yelled Puss, Jr. At this the horse 
with leaps and bounds came closer and closer to 
the fleeing pig. 

“I’ve got the rope!” cried the little old man. 

“Make a big noose at one end,” said Puss, 
“and as we draw near throw it over his head.” 

“That I will,” answered the little old man.' 
“When I was young I was a cowboy. I hope 
I’ve not forgotten how to swing lariat.” 

As good luck would have it ? he had not. All 
145 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 

at once the little old man swung the rope in the 
air and the noose fell over the pig’s head. 

‘‘I’ve got him! I’ve got him!” cried the old 
man, and Puss, Jr., pulled in his horse. The 
race was over and the old man, jumping down to 
the ground, thanked Puss again and again for 
his assistance. 


PUSS HELPS A LITTLE BOY WHO IS IN 
TROUBLE 



HE town of Banbury Cross was very pretty. 


A situated at the corner of two cross-roads, 
close to a sparkling river over which ran a bridge. 
As Puss, Jr., on his good gray horse, whose feet 
went rackety-rackety, rackety-tak over the broad 
planking, drew rein at the farther end a small 
boy, who stood by the side of a pretty little pony, 
began to sing: 


“I had a little pony, 

His name was Dapple-gray, 

I lent him to a lady 
To ride a mile away. 

She whipped him, she lashed him. 
She rode him through the mire; 
I would, not lend my pony now, 
For all the lady’s hire.” 


“Neither would I,” said Puss. 

The little boy opened his eyes very wide. 
They were blue as the skies overhead and were 
full of tears. “ She whipped him, she lashed him,” 


147 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


continued the boy. “I’ll never again lend my 
pony to anybody.” 

“I wouldn’t lend my good gray horse,” said 
Puss, “for one never knows whether a person is 
kind to animals or not.” 

“I never thought a lady would hurt my pony,” 
sobbed the boy. “Just look at him. He’s all 
covered with mud.” 

“So he is,” said Puss, consolingly; “but never 
mind. A good washing will fix him up.” 

“But my father will be angry,” said the boy. 
“He doesn’t like to wash my pony, and I’m too 
little.” 

“Let’s take your pony down to the river- 
bank,” Puss suggested. “We’ll find a shallow 
spot and wash him off. Perhaps we can ride 
him a little way into the water; that would 
help.” Tying his good gray horse to a post 
near by, Puss led the pony down the bank to 
the river, the little boy following. 

“Do you want to ride him in,” asked Puss, 
“or shall I?” 

“You do it,” said the little boy. “I’m afraid.” 

# So Puss jumped on the pony’s back and 
gently urged him into the river. After going 
out some distance he stopped, for the water 
was almost up to his boots. “I guess I can 
wash him now,” cried Puss, and, leaning over, 
first on one side and then on the other, he 
splashed up the water and scrubbed off the 


THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR. 


mud and dirt until the pony was as clean as 
a whistle. 

“Now,” exclaimed Puss, “he looks like him¬ 
self again.” The pony seemed quite relieved 
also, for after gaining the bank he neighed and 
kicked up his heels in a delighted manner. 

“He looks better than ever,” said the little 
boy. “He was really quite dusty before I lent 
him to the lady.” 

“Yes, he’s in fine shape,” said Puss. “I 
must now leave you, for I am on a long journey.” 

“Thank you,” said the boy. “A pleasant jour¬ 
ney to you, my good Sir Cat.” 

How our little hero, Puss in Boots, Jr., at last 
finds his famous father. Puss in Boots, at the 
castle of my Lord of Carabas, will be told in 
Further Adventures of Puss in Boots , Jr. 


THE END 








HOLLOW TREE 
STORIES 

By ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE 

HOW MR. DOG GOT EVEN 
HOW MR. RABBIT LOST HIS TAIL 
MR. RABBIT’S BIG DINNER 
MAKING UP WITH MR. DOG 
MR. ’POSSUM’S GREAT BALLOON TRIP 
WHEN JACK RABBIT WAS A LITTLE BOY 
MR. TURTLE’S FLYING ADVENTURE 
MR. CROW AND THE WHITEWASH 
MR. RABBIT’S WEDDING 

The popularity of the quaint Deep Woods creatures 
has brought about these smaller handy volumes — 
little books such as little readers love. These, however, 
are not in any sense reprints of the three larger volumes , 
since all the stories which the latter contain are not 
included in the smaller books. 

Volumes , sold together or separately. Illustrated 
by J. M. Cond'e. 

HARPER & BROTHERS 
NEW YORK Established 1817 LONDON 






HARPER’S 

“ TELL-ME-HOW ” SERIES 


HARPER'S EVERY-DAY ELECTRICITY 
By Don Cameron Shafer 
Describes all electrical apparatus in common use. 
Each chapter contains various examples and experi¬ 
ments; amply illustrated with line-drawings. 

HARPER’S WIRELESS BOOK 
By Alpheus Hyatt Verrill 
Part I deals with Principles and Mechanism of 
Wireless; Part II, Operation and Use of Wireless; 
Part III, Wireless Telephone; Part IF, Wireless 
Power Transmission. 

HARPER’S BEGINNING ELECTRICITY 
By Don Cameron Shafer 
It is an introduction to electricity, written simply 
to show boys how the wonderful force may be looked 
upon as a friend, and even a playmate. 

HARPER’S GASOLINE ENGINE BOOK 
By Alpheus Hyatt Verrill 
A simple and practical guide for all those who own, 
use, or operate gas and gasoline motors. While intend¬ 
ed for boys, it will prove of equal value to older readers y 

HARPER’S AIRCRAFT BOOK 
By Alpheus Hyatt Verrill 
The six divisions of the book are: Why the Aero¬ 
plane Flies, Model Aeroplanes, Gliders or Non-pro- 
pelled Aeroplanes, Various Types of Aeroplanes . 
Hydro-aeroplanes, and Uses of the Aeroplane. 

Each Volume Fully Illustrated. Crown 8vo 


HARPER & BROTHERS 
NEW YORK Established 1817 LONDON 















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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 





















































































































































































